Abstract
Twenty-seven years ago, Samuel Kirk first proffered the term learning disabilities to describe children who underachieve academically for reasons that cannot be explained by known handicapping conditions, or by socioeconomic or cultural factors. Prior to Kirk’s definition, learning disabled children had been a somewhat anonymous group. Since then, researchers, educators, physicians, and other professionals have proposed many definitions and explanations and have developed many etiological and programmatic theories on learning disabilities. Yet, after almost three decades there is no consensus as to the true nature of the condition. We have no theoretically sound information about the natural history of the disorder and no valid evidence of the efficacy of intervention outcomes or the appropriateness of management programs.
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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Preston, C.N., Brown, F.R. (1991). Learning Disabilities. In: Gottlieb, M.I., Williams, J.E. (eds) Developmental-Behavioral Disorders. Critical Issues in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3714-4_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3714-4_9
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