Mathematics Learning Disabilities in Girls With Fragile X or Turner Syndrome During Late Elementary School

• Published in: Journal of learning disabilities 2008-01, Vol.41 (1), p.29-46
• Main Authors: Murphy, Melissa M., Mazzocco, Michèle M. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Aptitude; Arithmetic; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child clinical studies; Children & youth; Comorbidity; Comparative Analysis; Computation; Concept Formation; Congenital Impairments; Counting; Developmental disorders; Dyslexia - diagnosis; Dyslexia - genetics; Dyslexia - psychology; Elementary School Students; Elementary schools; Female; Females; Fragile X syndrome; Fragile X Syndrome - diagnosis; Fragile X Syndrome - genetics; Fragile X Syndrome - psychology; Girls; Grade 4; Grade 5; Grade 6; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Intelligence tests; Learning Disabilities; Learning disorders; Learning Disorders - diagnosis; Learning Disorders - genetics; Learning Disorders - psychology; Male and female genital diseases. Gonadal dysgenesis. Hermaphroditism. Sex hormones resistance; Mathematics; Mathematics Achievement; Mathematics Education; Mathematics Skills; Medical sciences; Memory; Metabolic diseases; Miscellaneous; Mosques & temples; Neuropsychological Tests; Other metabolic disorders; Phenotype; Problem Solving; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychomotor Disorders - diagnosis; Psychomotor Disorders - genetics; Psychomotor Disorders - psychology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Reaction time; Reading ability; Reading disabilities; Reading Skills; School districts; Short term memory; Skill development; Spatial Ability; Special education; Studies; Turner syndrome; Turner Syndrome - diagnosis; Turner Syndrome - genetics; Turner Syndrome - psychology; Verification; Wechsler Scales
• ISSN: 0022-2194; 1538-4780
• DOI: 10.1177/0022219407311038

The present study focuses on math and related skills among 32 girls with fragile X (n = 14) or Turner (n = 18) syndrome during late elementary school. Performance in each syndrome group was assessed relative to Full Scale IQ—matched comparison groups of girls from the general population (n = 32 and n = 89 for fragile X syndrome and Turner syndrome, respectively). Differences between girls with fragile X and their comparison group emerged on untimed arithmetic calculations, mastery of counting skills, and arithmetic problem verification accuracy. Relative to girls in the comparison group, girls with Turner syndrome did not differ on untimed arithmetic calculations or problem verification accuracy, but they had limited mastery of counting skills and longer response times to complete the problem verification task. Girls with fragile X or Turner syndrome also differed from their respective comparison groups on math-related abilities, including visual—spatial, working memory, and reading skills, and the associations between math and those related skills. Together, these findings support the notion that difficulty with math and related skills among girls with fragile X or Turner syndrome continues into late elementary school and that the profile of math and related skill difficulty distinguishes the two syndrome groups from each other.