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LEARNING DISABILITIES AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

NCJ Number
46082
Journal
JOURNAL OF JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURTS Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 25-30
Author(s)
K V UNGER
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
JUVENILE DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IS DISCUSSED AS A SYMPTOM OF THE ORGANIC BRAIN DISORDER KNOWN AS LEARNING DISABILITIES.
Abstract
BECAUSE OF DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS IN THE MEDICAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND HEALTH FIELDS, MORE CHILDREN ARE BEING DISCOVERED WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES. THIS DISORDER IS BEING CORRELATED TO DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IN JUVENILES. LEARNING DISABILITIES CAN ENTAIL HYPERACTIVITY, SHORT ATTENTION SPAN, POOR ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE, POOR SCHOOL WORK, IRRITABILITY, HOSTILITY, AND AGGRESSIVENESS. THE DIFFICULTY APPEARS TO DEVELOP FROM A BRAIN DISORDER. RESEARCHERS REPORT THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE CAUSES OF LEARNING DISABILITIES. THE DISORDER IS FREQUENTLY GENETIC IN ORGIN. USUALLY THERE IS MORE THAN ONE LEARNING-DISABLED PERSON PER FAMILY. CERTAIN DISEASES, SUCH AS RUBELLA, OR BIRTH COMPLICATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISORDER. TWO FACTORS THAT LINK LEARNING DISABILITIES TO DELINQUENCY ARE FRUSTRATION AND IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR. BETWEEN 50 AND 90 PERCENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS HAVE SOME TYPE OF LEARNING DISABILITY, ACCORDING TO STUDIES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AJJ)