Provision of health services for children with learning difficulties: A retrospective study at a tertiary centre in Malaysia

Abstract

Background & Objective: Learning difficulties pose significant challenges for academic achievement and skill development in children. This study explored characteristics of children with learning difficulties and assessed existing practices at a tertiary medical centre in Malaysia.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, including children aged 6 to 18 with learning difficulties. Data was obtained from electronic medical records, and 187 cases were analysed for demographic details, referral patterns, diagnoses and associated conditions.

Results: The study revealed that learning difficulties often emerged by age 5, and primarily affected males, characterised by behavioural concerns. Half of the children were in mainstream education without additional support. Challenges in the assessment process were due to limited healthcare professionals, and absence of standardised, linguistically and culturally applicable tools. Associated conditions, including developmental delays, language disorders, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder were commonly found.

Conclusion: The study identified service gaps in the healthcare setting vital for planning future services, necessitating increased resources and funding for child development centres nationwide. Such challenges necessitate the shift from diagnosis-focused approaches, to identifying accommodations for learning within existing structures. Future research should prioritise reliability and validity of locally-developed assessment tools to enhance the assessment process. Larger-scale audits are crucial for accurate insights into current practices of assessing learning difficulties in Malaysia.