Current theories on the origin and development of specific learning disabilities (SLD) suggest that changes in general cognitive abilities, such as executive function, are associated with the onset of both dyslexia and dyscalculia. In this study, the executive functions of primary school children diagnosed with dyslexia, dyscalculia, a comorbidity of both disorders, and without learning difficulties were analyzed. The executive functions of visuospatial working memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and fluid intelligence were assessed. The results showed significantly lower performance in executive functions in SLD groups compared to the control group, but no significant differences were found between the groups diagnosed with SLD, only in cognitive flexibility between children with dyslexia and children with dyscalculia. These findings support the theoretical hypothesis that the onset and development of SLD is associated with deficits in executive functioning.
Cañizares et al. (Thu,) studied this question.