Learning problems in neurofibromatosis patients

Abstract

Learning problems in patients with neurofibromatosis (NF) are probably the most frequent characteristics after those that define the disorder. They are not secondary to the physical problems. A recent survey that compared children who have NF with their siblings revealed a 37% greater incidence of learning disabilities in the children with NF. Intelligence quotient (IQ) data from several studies indicate that almost all patients with NF have a normal IQ, but there is a progression from low normal to normal as these patients reach adulthood. The most common psychoeducational problems include visual-perceptual-motor delay, spelling and arithmetic disabilities, and a cluster of weaknesses related to cortical organization, similar to those seen in children with attention-deficit disorders. A type of learning disability unique to patients with NF has not been identified, and the diagnosis and treatment of the learning problems are generally the same as for children without NF.