Behavioral and Emotional Problems Associated with Dyslexia in Adolescence

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescence is a period of stressful transition for youths who have reading difficulties and they may be at risk for emotional and behavioral problems. Aim of the Study: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the reading difficulties among a group of adolescents and highlight the emotional and the behavioral symptoms associated with this difficulty . Subjects and Methods: Thirty-five poor reader adolescents and 21 typical readers matching the patient group regarding age were included in the study. Poor readers were interviewed for the following themes; success or failure in school, feelings of well-being in school, the impact of dyslexia on school achievements, self-esteem, peer relations. Youths were given Youth Self-Report Inventory (YSR) that measure eight sub-scale symptoms: withdrawn, somatic complaints, anxiety and depression, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, aggressive behavior and delinquent behavior. Hamilton rating scale of depression (HRSD) was used to assess the severity of depression and Hamilton rating scale of anxiety (HRSA) to assess the severity of anxiety. Results: This study revealed that dyslexia had negatively influenced adolescents’ self-esteem and caused them to feel different from others with poor school achievement and lower feeling of well-being. Dyslexic adolescents in this study also suffered from externalizing and internalizing symptoms withdrawal, somatic complaints, anxiety/ depression, social problems, thought problems, aggression and delinquent behavior that were significantly higher in poor than typical readers. They showed significantly higher scores of depression as assessed by HRSD and anxiety as assessed by HRSA. Conclusion: The present study will help generate awareness about youth with dyslexia and result in their early identification and initiation of appropriate psychoeducational interventions, namely, remedial education for dyslexia and behavioral and medical management for associated emotional and behavioral symptoms.