The Role of the General Practitioner in Diagnosing and Treating Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia

Abstract

Pediatricians play an important role in the diagnosis and therapy of children with dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia. These syndromes strongly affect the performance of children at school. Children
with dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia show a significant underachievement in reading, writing or counting and their failure to meet the school requirements undermines their self confidence
and positive self-concept. As a result, children with learning problems often become aggressive, frustrated or play the clown in the classroom. According to the Hungarian law, children with any
learning difficulties have the right to get special education by their specific symptoms. In the realisation of the law and equity the pediatrician’s expertise is essential and has an important role in
the therapeutical procedures. However, the pediatrician’s role is more complex than writing an opinion. Pediatricians can help by giving a detailed description about these syndromes and explain
them how they can help their child, what the main difficulties during the child’s studies are, what kind of therapies can be efficient and how they can make their child’s school years easier. During the assessment most of the parents ask the following questions: What does dyslexia, dyscalculia or dysgraphia exactly mean? Is it a handicap or a learning difficulty? Could the child live a normal life? With the proper answer and with an inclusive attitude pediatricians can help both the parents and the children to create a liveable lifestyle and make their children’s schoolwork more successful. The authors’ opinion is to near the medical and the pedagogical view, because without the cooperation of these two scientific fields, the affected parents, children and teachers cannot get proper help to find better solution and support for their problems. In the survey the authors intend to give a complex view about the symptoms of these syndromes and try to give useful advice for pediatricians how they can support their patients by emphasizing the key role of pediatricians and clinical expertises in the early recognition and development.