Parent-report emotional and behavioural symptoms in children and adolescents with Specific Learning Disorders: a case–control study

Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs) are associated with increased emotional and behavioural vulnerability, which represents a major clinical concern. However, research in this area has often been limited by small samples, screening-based identification of learning difficulties, and inadequate control groups. This retrospective case–control study investigated parent-report emotional and behavioural symptoms in a large cohort of children and adolescents with SLDs without major comorbid neuropsychiatric disorders, compared with typically developing peers. Six-hundred forty-nine youths aged 7–17 years (439 with SLDs and 210 controls) were assessed using the Child Behaviour Checklist. Compared with controls, youths with SLDs showed significantly higher levels of both externalising symptoms and internalising symptoms. Higher rates of sluggish cognitive tempo and emotional–behavioural dysregulation were also observed. Anxiety-related symptoms were the most prevalent, followed by affective and stress-related symptoms. Approximately one-third of participants with SLDs exhibited elevated dysregulation profile scores. Within SLD Group, gender differences emerged for anxiety and stress-related symptoms, whereas educational level showed no significant associations. Overall, children and adolescents with SLDs displayed a wide range of emotional and behavioural vulnerabilities extending beyond academic difficulties, even in the absence of psychiatric diagnoses. These findings underscore the importance of early identification and integrated educational supports targeting both learning and emotional–behavioural functioning. Clinical trial number Not applicable.