Data Cart

Description

LEARNDEV identifies sample children age 3 to 17 whom a representative from school or a health professional had ever diagnosed as having a learning disability.

The 2000 Field Representative's Manual defined a learning disability as "a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language, spoken or written. It may be evident by an inability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. It includes conditions such as brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, or aphasia. It does not apply to children who have difficulty learning as a result of visual, hearing, motor, mental retardation, or emotional disturbance." This definition was not routinely shared with respondents and reflects the understanding of those who created the survey, not necessarily that of those who answered the question.

Presumably many children "who have difficulty learning as a result of visual, hearing, motor, mental retardation, or emotional disturbance" would have received a positive response for one of the following four variables: ADDEV (Ever told had attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder); RETARDEDEV (Ever told mentally retarded); or ODDEV (Ever told have other developmental delay); and AUTISMEV (Ever told have autism).

Comparability

This variable is completely comparable over time.

Universe

Availability

• 1988, 1997-2010

Weights

• 1988, 1997-2010 : SAMPWEIGHT