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What Causes Language-based Learning Disabilities In Adults?
Question: An male adult has the following set of mild language issues: Difficulties with writing, reading, speaking, listening, comprehending. He can do all these things, but slower than average and with some anxiety. He has had these issues his whole life, but never realized he processes differently. He is completely normal in every other way, even gifted artistically, and has recently retired after a long successful career in the commercial art field. Is there perhaps some syndrome he has that we can learn more about?
Brief Answer:
unlikely to be organic cause , get some routine investigations
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Slowness of mental activities may be due to depression, hypothyroidism or vitamin B12 deficiency. Other causes are rare.
Long history of such complains without any fluctuations and deterioration seems not to be related to some organic disease.
Even every individual has some variation in responding to a stimulus and completing a task.
In some cases with mild mental retardation the deficits may be hard to find and may only appear in formal testing by a neurologist or psychiatrist.
You can get evaluated by a physician or neurologist for detailed examination and assessment on mental battery testing for any abnormalities. Further investigation can be done based on this.
Routine tests like blood sugar, thyroid profile , liver and renal function testing, vitamin B12 may be done.
Brain imaging can be done if required after consultation with neurologist.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr Neeraj Kumar
Neurologist
unlikely to be organic cause , get some routine investigations
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Slowness of mental activities may be due to depression, hypothyroidism or vitamin B12 deficiency. Other causes are rare.
Long history of such complains without any fluctuations and deterioration seems not to be related to some organic disease.
Even every individual has some variation in responding to a stimulus and completing a task.
In some cases with mild mental retardation the deficits may be hard to find and may only appear in formal testing by a neurologist or psychiatrist.
You can get evaluated by a physician or neurologist for detailed examination and assessment on mental battery testing for any abnormalities. Further investigation can be done based on this.
Routine tests like blood sugar, thyroid profile , liver and renal function testing, vitamin B12 may be done.
Brain imaging can be done if required after consultation with neurologist.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr Neeraj Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you for your answer. After doing some computer research, I'm wondering if it can be something like Language Processing Disorder. He's always had this mild problem, but made it through schooling, including receiving a BA degree, with average (not high) grades. As he is 70 now, they did not have knowledge of nor test for learning disabilities when he was young. Now, the only info I can find on language processing problems is written about children. Do you know anything about the subject?
Brief Answer:
Difficult to diagnose language processing disorder at elderly age
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,
Diagnosis of language processing disorder is based on assessment of child by psychologist on a questionnaire.
The diagnosis in adult is very difficult on history basis as objective testing and score may not be available.
Also the age related brain degeneration may lead to false interpretation of results.
At this age metabolic and endocrine causes should be evaluated for possible benefit from any treatment.
If you want to get evaluated regarding language processing disorder then you should visit a neurologist or psychologist for previous record and present state evaluation.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr Neeraj Kumar
neurologist
Difficult to diagnose language processing disorder at elderly age
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,
Diagnosis of language processing disorder is based on assessment of child by psychologist on a questionnaire.
The diagnosis in adult is very difficult on history basis as objective testing and score may not be available.
Also the age related brain degeneration may lead to false interpretation of results.
At this age metabolic and endocrine causes should be evaluated for possible benefit from any treatment.
If you want to get evaluated regarding language processing disorder then you should visit a neurologist or psychologist for previous record and present state evaluation.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr Neeraj Kumar
neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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