ETIOLOGY OF LEARNING DISABILITIES, DRUG ABUSE AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY (FROM ECOLOGIC-BIOCHEMICAL APPROACHES TO TREATMENT OF DELINQUENTS AND CRIMINALS, 1978, BY LEONARD J HIPPCHEN - SEE NCJ-50444)

• NCJ Number: 50448
• Author(s): A COTT
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Van Nostrand Reinhold
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EARLY LEARNING DISABILITIES, OFTEN FOUND WITH HYPERACTIVE BEHAVIOR, AND LATER DELINQUENCY OR DRUG DEPENDENCY IS DISCUSSED. THIS PAPER EXAMINES SOME POSSIBLE BIOLOGICAL CAUSES.

Abstract

EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT AS MANY AS HALF OF ALL YOUNG PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH JUVENILE COURT OR FOUND TO BE DRUG OR ALCOHOL ABUSERS SUFFERED FROM SIGNIFICANT LEARNING DISABILITIES IN THEIR ELEMENTARY GRADES. SURVEYS FIND THAT 60-80 PERCENT OF DELINQUENTS READ BELOW GRADE LEVEL. THE KNOWN CAUSES OF LEARNING DISABILITIES ARE DESCRIBED, INCLUDING TRAUMA BEFORE OR AT BIRTH, OXYGEN DEPRIVATION BEFORE OR AT BIRTH, POOR NUTRITION IN THE PREGNANT MOTHER OR POOR NUTRITION DURING EARLY CHILDHOOD, AND DRUGS TAKEN DURING PREGNANCY. CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES OFTEN HAVE UNDETECTED VISUAL PROBLEMS WHICH DISTORT THEIR PERCEPTION. RESEARCH FINDINGS IN THE AREAS OF HYPOGLYCEMIA, BRAIN LEVELS OF DOPAMINE, BRAIN LEVELS OF NIACINAMIDE, THE SYNTHESIS OF 5-HYDROXYTRYPTOPHAN, AND THE LEVELS OF PYRIDOXINE (VITAMIN B-6) IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM ARE BRIEFLY PRESENTED. THE INTERACTION IS TRACED BETWEEN BIOLOGICAL LEARNING DISABILITY AND THE RESULTING SOCIAL STIGMATISM THAT LEADS TO FAULTY PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT. THE STORY OF THE YOUNG PERSON WHO DOES NOT DO WELL IN SCHOOL AND HAS TROUBLE WITH TEACHERS IS COMMON IN JUVENILE COURT. EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES IS URGED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)