Detecting learning difficulties

About one in 20 children are affected by difficulties, which arise from neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD).

Despite the relatively high numbers of children with these problems, there is a desperate need for an improved method of assessment, which is both reliable and straightforward to use.

Currently children thought to have these problems undergo four separate assessment procedures, which are time consuming, intensive and require significant training for the staff which operate them.

There are also significant waiting times before children can have an initial assessment of their problem. The UK average waiting time is 46 months. The average waiting time in the Aberdeen area is between 15 and 24 months.

Now scientists at the University of Aberdeen have been awarded funding from the Scottish Enterprise Proof of Concept scheme, which helps commercialise leading research.