Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness of Public School Teachers Towards Learning Disabilities in Children - An Institutional Based Cross-Sectional Study in Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu

Introduction: Literature indicates that the incidence of specific learning disabilities among Indian children has been rising. Scholars have been paying much attention to teachers' knowledge which is largely associated with early identification and treatment of learning disabilities. Objectives: This study aimed to understand the knowledge and awareness of public-school teachers, about learning disabilities among children, in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, India. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 200 school teachers in Dharmapuri district to achieve the desired objectives using structured and self- administered questionnaire. Results: The knowledge of teachers regarding learning disabilities among children was found to be moderate among the majority of the teachers (45%), where as substantially large number of participants showed an adequate level of knowledge (33.5%), and rest of the participants (21.5%) have shown an inadequate level of knowledge. A vast majority of participants (73.5%) were aware of the learning disability amongst children. The educational qualification (P value < 0.001) and experience (P value < 0.05) of the teachers had a significant association between knowledge level. Conclusion: In light of the findings, it is essential to spread the awareness and knowledge about the learning disabilities of children among teachers. The government should take necessary policy directions in raising awareness and knowledge of various learning disabilities among parents, teachers and peer groups so that these children will be handled in a better way in the social circle. This also should be included as a part of curriculum in teachers' training programs