AUTHOR=Augusto Janaína Aparecida de Oliveira , Ferreira Thalita Francielli Lopes , Arduini Rodrigo Genaro , Bastos Talita Meneses de Almeida , Campanha Nádia Santana Pereira , Fornasari Rita de Cássia Coutinho Vieira , Stella Patrícia Regina Flaviano , Simão Adriana Nobre de Paula , Moraes Joyce Nelly Leal de , Ciasca Sylvia Maria 

TITLE=Exploring neurodevelopmental concerns: insights from a public neuropediatric learning disabilities multiprofessional outpatient facility in Brazil

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1363536

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1363536

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=IntroductionSpecialized public services for attending children and adolescents with complaints of scholar difficulties are scarce in Brazil. It is important to recognize this target population and understand its demands, so these facilities may be able to meet their needs and offer qualified and effective services. The main objective of this study was to characterize the profile of neuropediatric patients cared for in a reference outpatient facility in Brazil.MethodData were extracted from children’s and adolescent’s records, corresponding to assessments carried out between March 2017 to March 2023.ResultsFrom 220 selected records, 70% had complaints related to learning difficulties and 79.1% to attention disorders. The most frequent diagnoses were attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (30%), intellectual deficiency (19.1%), and learning-specific disorder (17.7%). A significant association with scholarship was found between motor agitation [χ2(9) = 29.8; p < 0.001], behavioral complaints [χ2(9) = 16.2; p = 0.050], and language difficulties [χ2(9) = 17.0; p = 0.043]. Results have indicated significant differences relating to diagnosis and gender: boys had a higher prevalence for dyslexia [χ2(1) = 4.44; p = 0.035], intellectual deficiency [χ2(1) = 8.38; p = 0.004], and autism spectrum disorder [χ2(1) = 9.29; p = 0.002], when compared to girls.ConclusionThese results corroborate international findings over complaints regarding learning difficulties and correlated disturbances, in addition to the existing comorbidities between different diagnoses related to neurodevelopment and scholar acquisitions.