28

Chapter 2. Objectives of the present study

There are few demographic data on the Specific disorder of arithmetical skills. The current study was carried out to assess the prevalence of the condition in a general population sample of German schoolchildren using standardized academic achievement tests as diagnostic screening instruments.

Since the diagnostic criteria for the Specific disorder of arithmetical skills and their significance are widely discussed, we attempted in a second step of the study to validate the diagnosis of the Specific disorder of arithmetical skills from a neuropsychological and medical viewpoint. For the validation we assessed clinical data, imaging and neurophysiologic studies as well as a neuropsychological test battery.

Similar methods were used in another study of our research group of a general population sample of schoolchildren in a rural area. It was an additional goal of this study to compare these data with our data of a city sample.

Finally, we attempted to put our results into the larger context on the field of research of the Specific disorder of arithmetical skills.

© Die inhaltliche Zusammenstellung und Aufmachung dieser Publikation sowie die elektronische Verarbeitung sind urheberrechtlich geschützt. Jede Verwertung, die nicht ausdrücklich vom Urheberrechtsgesetz zugelassen ist, bedarf der vorherigen Zustimmung. Das gilt insbesondere für die Vervielfältigung, die Bearbeitung und Einspeicherung und Verarbeitung in elektronische Systeme.