Learning, Motor, and Communication Disorders

Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic University of Pittsburgh School of

Medicine

Learning, motor, and communication disorders refer to a group of disorders in the

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. [DSM-IV]; American

Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994) characterized by severe deficiencies in the

development of skills in the academic, language, and motor domains. These disorders

were previously referred to as specific developmental disorders in the third revised

edition of the DSM (DSM-III-R-APA, 1987). The learning disorders are further divided

into reading disorder, mathematics disorder, and disorder of written expression. There is

also a learning disorder not otherwise specified diagnosis. Under motor skills disorder is

developmental coordination disorder. Included in the communications disorders are

expressive language disorder, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder,

phonological disorder, and stuttering. As with learning disorders, there is also a

communication disorder not otherwise specified diagnosis.