Behavioural Difficulties That Co‐occur With Specific Word Reading Difficulties: A UK Population‐ Based Cohort Study

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the association between specific word reading difficulties (SWRD) identified at age 7 years using a discrepancy approach and subsequent dimensional measures of behavioural difficulties reported by teachers and parents at age 11 years. Behavioural problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Secondary analysis of a UK representative population‐based sample of children (n = 12 631) was conducted using linear regression models.There were 284 children (2.2%) identified with SWRD at age 7 years. Children with SWRD had significantly higher scores on all measures of behavioural difficulties in unadjusted analysis. SWRD was associated with elevated behavioural difficulties at age 11 years according to parent report, and with greater emotional problems, hyperactivity and conduct issues according to teachers, even after having controlled for baseline difficulties. These results were replicated for children with low reading attainment, but no cognitive ability discrepancy. Categories of special educational need into which children with SWRD were classed at school were varied.Given high rates of co‐occurring behavioural difficulties, assessment that identifies each individual child's specific functional, rather than categorical, difficulties is likely to be the most effective way of providing classroom support. © 2015 The Authors. Dyslexia published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Psychological Well‐being Trajectories of Individuals with Dyslexia Aged 3–11 Years

“…In addition to emotional problems, wider-reaching developmental and behavioural issues have been associated with dyslexia. Conduct problems such as aggression, anger dyscontrol and challenging behaviour have been reported as more common amongst children with specific reading difficulty (Russell, Ryder, Norwich, & Ford, 2015) and evidenced to persist into adulthood (Kirk & Reid, 2001). Reading difficulties have been strongly associated with attentional problems and ADHD; 18-42% of children with reading difficulty having co-occurring ADHD (Gayán et al, 2005;Gilger, Pennington, & DeFries, 1992;Willcutt et al, 2001.)…”

“…Kempe, Gustafson, & Samuelsson, 2011). Although, recent evidence has proposed a greater role for hyperactivity, with a national longitudinal study identifying that specific word reading difficulties at 7 years of age were predictive of hyperactivity and conduct problems at 11 years of age (Russell et al, 2015).…”

Word reading, vocabulary, and mental health problems in adolescent girls and boys with intellectual and developmental disabilities

“…Importantly, several studies have shown a relationship between poor reading skills and mental health problems, including conduct problems and anxiety (e.g. Cederl€ of et al 2017, Carroll et al 2005, Russell et al 2015. In most studies, including ours, mental health problems are broadly defined, comprising both actual diagnoses, like anxiety disorder, and problematic behaviours that cause problems in everyday life, though not necessarily to a degree warranting a psychiatric diagnosis (Balazs et al 2016).…”

“…These areas are related in the general population (e.g. Russell et al 2015), but it is unknown whether this also applies to individuals with IDD.…”

Executive Function Variation in Children With Conduct Problems: Influences of Coexisting Reading Difficulties

“…Recent data drawn from another UK representative population-based sample show that 7-year-old children with reading difficulties are more likely to exhibit high rates of conduct problems than children without (Russell, Ryder, Norwich, & Ford, 2015).…”