Objective. This report describes the main clinical features associated with specific reading disability (RD) in a group of 778 school-age children studied in a Neuropsychological Clinic in Mexico City. Material and Methods. The study was performed retrospectively, using data abstracted from clinical records of subjects seen in 1995-1996. Children were mainly from low and middle economic strata and aged between 6 to 12 years. The following data were collected: age, gender, diagnosis, school grade, food intake, maternal complications during pregnancy, perinatal and postnatal neurological risk factors, and neurological signs and handedness. Results. Subjects with RD had a mean age of 102.9 months, were predominantly male (male female ratio, 2:1). Among the study group, 49.1% of the children were diagnosed with RD of a visuo-sensory-motor type, and 75.1% were from early school years (1st to 3rd grades); 27.6% showed evidence of malnutrition. A previous history of language disorders (49.2%), and a high frequency of perinatal risk factors and neurological soft signs were also found. Conclusions. This study shows that variables such as gender, food intake, and genetic and neurological risk factors, were associated with reading disabilities in school children.

Objetivo. Describir las características clínicas asociadas con los problemas específicos de la lectura en un grupo de 778 escolares estudiados en una Clínica de Neuropsicología Infantil de la Ciudad de México. Material y métodos. El estudio fue realizado retrospectivamente en los años de 1995 a 1996, con los expedientes clínicos de pacientes de estratos socioeconómicos medio y bajo, valorando las siguientes variables: edad, sexo, diagnóstico, grado escolar, alimentación, complicaciones maternas durante el embarazo, factores de riesgo pre-peri y posnatales para daño neurológico, enfermedades neurológicas y lateralidad manual de los pacientes. Resultados. Los pacientes con problemas de la lectura tuvieron un promedio de edad de 102.9 meses, fueron predominantemente del sexo masculino (2:1), 49.1% fueron de tipo visuo-senso-motor, las tres cuartas partes (75.1%) cursaba los primeros grados de escolaridad, 27.6% con datos de una ingesta calórico-proteica inadecuada, la mitad con historia de problemas del lenguaje, una alta proporción de factores de riesgo para daño neurológico, así como signos neurológicos blandos. Conclusiones. Este estudio sugiere que varias condiciones como sexo, nutrición, factores genéticos y diversos factores de riesgo para daño neurológico están asociados con la presentación de problemas específicos del aprendizaje de la lectura.

Objective. This report describes the main clinical features associated with specific reading disability (RD) in a group of 778 school-age children studied in a Neuropsychological Clinic in Mexico City. Material and Methods. The study was performed retrospectively, using data abstracted from clinical records of subjects seen in 1995-1996. Children were mainly from low and middle economic strata and aged between 6 to 12 years. The following data were collected: age, gender, diagnosis, school grade, food intake, maternal complications during pregnancy, perinatal and postnatal neurological risk factors, and neurological signs and handedness. Results. Subjects with RD had a mean age of 102.9 months, were predominantly male (male female ratio, 2:1). Among the study group, 49.1% of the children were diagnosed with RD of a visuo-sensory-motor type, and 75.1% were from early school years (1st to 3rd grades); 27.6% showed evidence of malnutrition. A previous history of language disorders (49.2%), and a high frequency of perinatal risk factors and neurological soft signs were also found. Conclusions. This study shows that variables such as gender, food intake, and genetic and neurological risk factors, were associated with reading disabilities in school children.

Objetivo. Describir las características clínicas asociadas con los problemas específicos de la lectura en un grupo de 778 escolares estudiados en una Clínica de Neuropsicología Infantil de la Ciudad de México. Material y métodos. El estudio fue realizado retrospectivamente en los años de 1995 a 1996, con los expedientes clínicos de pacientes de estratos socioeconómicos medio y bajo, valorando las siguientes variables: edad, sexo, diagnóstico, grado escolar, alimentación, complicaciones maternas durante el embarazo, factores de riesgo pre-peri y posnatales para daño neurológico, enfermedades neurológicas y lateralidad manual de los pacientes. Resultados. Los pacientes con problemas de la lectura tuvieron un promedio de edad de 102.9 meses, fueron predominantemente del sexo masculino (2:1), 49.1% fueron de tipo visuo-senso-motor, las tres cuartas partes (75.1%) cursaba los primeros grados de escolaridad, 27.6% con datos de una ingesta calórico-proteica inadecuada, la mitad con historia de problemas del lenguaje, una alta proporción de factores de riesgo para daño neurológico, así como signos neurológicos blandos. Conclusiones. Este estudio sugiere que varias condiciones como sexo, nutrición, factores genéticos y diversos factores de riesgo para daño neurológico están asociados con la presentación de problemas específicos del aprendizaje de la lectura.