Learning Disabilities: For Researchers and Health Care Providers

• Child Development and Behavior (CDBB) Branch
  The branch develops scientific initiatives and supports research and research training relevant to the psychological, psychobiological, language, behavioral, and educational development of children. Read a 2009 report (PDF - 1.28 MB) about CDB Branch activities.
• Learning Disabilities Research Centers (LDRC) Consortium
  The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) funds several sites to conduct research on the causes and developmental course of learning disabilities. Learn more about LDRC topic areas and sites.
• National Reading Panel Report
  In response to a congressional request, in 1997 the NICHD and the U.S. Department of Education created the National Reading Panel to review the scientific evidence on reading and identify the most effective ways to teach children to read. The panel’s report noted that children who received explicit instruction in specific components of reading were more successful readers than those who did not receive such instruction. Access the "Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching Children to Read, 2000."
• The National Early Literacy Panel (NELP)
  NELP was convened in 2002 to conduct a synthesis of the research on the development of early literacy skills in children ages 0 to 5. The NICHD and several other public and private organizations synthesized research to contribute to decisions in educational policy and to help determine how teachers and families could support young children’s language development. Learn more about the panel and its report.
• Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
  An initiative of the U.S. Department of Education, IES provides the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), a central source of scientific evidence for what works in education. The WWC Evidence Review Protocol for Beginning Reading Interventions focuses on reading interventions for students in grades K-3 intended to increase skills in alphabetics, reading fluency, comprehension, or general reading achievement. Read the Beginning Reading Interventions report.
• International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
  IDA is a scientific and educational organization dedicated to the study and treatment of dyslexia and related language-based learning differences. It offers practice standards and information about effective programs.
  • Read the association’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading (PDF - 343 KB)
  • Learn more about the IDA’s Matrix of Multisensory Structured Language Programs (PDF - 253 KB)
• The Nature of Writing Difficulties in Students with Language/Learning Disabilities
  A 2009 article in the journal "Perspectives on Language Learning and Education" describes how speech-language pathologists might facilitate students’ written language success. Access the article.

Please note: Links to organizations and information included on this page do not indicate endorsement from the NICHD, NIH, or HHS.