' ... an excellent review of a large body of literature.' The New England Journal of Medicine ' ... essential reading for anyone planning epidemiological research in this area, both to provide information on individual disorders and putative mechanisms, and to demonstrate the difficulties in population ascertainment and the definition of variables to measure.' Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology

• Introduction: 1. What are the specific learning disorders? M. Bax, K. Whitmore and G. Willems; Part I. The Clinical Nature of the Disorders: 2. The reading difficulties M. Bax, K. Whitmore and G. Willems; 3. Dysgraphia, dyscalculia A. O'Hare; 4. The clumsy child H. Polatajko; 5. ADD/hyperkinesis/behaviours P. Rasmussen; Part II. Causes: 6. The genetics of learning disorder J. Stevenson; 7. Deficits in the brain K. Brown and P. Evrard; 8. Social class/sub-cultural/ethnic T. O'Connor and R. Pianta; 9. Precursors of the problem: obstetric and perinatal E. Lindahl and M. Hadders-Algra; Part III. Clinical Issues: 10. The toddler with a problem - who gets a learning disorder? S. Mason; 11. The child of school entry age - identifying the problem G. Willems; 12. Investigations/imaging/EEG H. Lou; 13. Neuropsychology A. Benasich and R. Spitz; Part IV. Prevention and Management: 14. What can be done in the classroom? A. Rabinowitz; 15. Management of behavioural issues C. Gillberg; 16. Health/education/social services - a combined approach K. Whitmore.