Research on symptomatology of specific learning disability in preschool children at the age of 5-6

The aim of this research is to determine prevalence and symptoms of specific learning disorder (SLD) in preschool children; In addition predicting difficulties related with reading, writing and mathematics in academic life, leading to the development of new scales for early diagnosis. In this research, Learning Disorder Symptom Checklist (LDSC) was filled out by teachers for 350 children in Şişli a district in İstanbul. Cronbach's alpha reliability analysis was used for the reliability analysis of the LDSC and reliability coefficient was found to be .969.40. Children who were at risk with respect to their LDSC scores and 40 children without risk were given Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Frostig Visual Perception Test and Gesell Development Test. Mann Whitney-U Test was used to evaluate the relationship of tests applied to risky and risk-free groups. The demographic data of children, families and children were obtained via teacher and family information form that filled out by teachers. The relationship between the LDSC and the sociodemographic variables (child age, parental age) coming from the teacher and family information form and the above-mentioned tests were examined with the relational screening model. Spearmen Brown correlation coefficient was used to determine relationship between score of Learning Disorder Symptom Checklist and applied tests. It is found that 21.71% of the preschool children (N= 76) were identified as risky children in terms of Learning Disorder Symptom Checklist. It is found that there is a statistically significant relationship between LD and the demographic variables coming from teacher and family information forms. It is observed that preschool children who had risk of learning disability; experienced difficulties on visual distinction and attention, visual-motor coordination, vocabulary level and recipient language. Keywords: Early diagnosis of learning disorder, Learning disorder Symptom checklist, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Frostig Visual Perception Test, Gesell Development Test.