The Prevalence of Learning Disabilities among Elementary School Children in Iran from 1990 to 2025: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
,
Abstract
Background: Learning disabilities (LDs) are among the most common developmental and educational challenges faced by school-age children worldwide. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to provide a pooled estimate of the prevalence of all types of learning disabilities in elementary school students in Iran.
Material and Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was performed in the international and national databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Magiran, and SID, from 1990 to March 18, 2025. The quality of articles was evaluated by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). All analyses in this study were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software, version 3.0.
Results: A total of 32 studies, comprising 81363 students, were included. The pooled prevalence of LDs among elementary school children in Iran was 5.6% (boys 6.4% and girls 5%). The prevalence of LDs in first-, second-, third-, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students was 9.5%, 6.9%, 6.2%, 5.2%, 4.5%, and 3.1%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia was 5.4%, 4.3%, and 3.4%, respectively.
Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis reveal that at least one in 20 Iranian students has a learning disability, and this rate rises to one in ten in early grades.
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41. Hakim A, Ghorbanibirgani A. Prevalence of Dyslexia Among Male Students in Primary Schools And Its Relationship with Obesity And Being Overweight in Ahvaz, Iran. International Journal Of Community Based Nursing And Midwifery. 2015;3(2):116.
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2. Ismail RM, Mohamed HT, Soltan BG. Prevalence of learning Disabilities Among a Sample of Primary School Students. The Scientific Journal of Al-Azhar Medical Faculty, Girls. 2019;3(1):125-30. https://doi.org/10.4103/sjamf.sjamf_65_18
3. Lerner JW, Johns BH. Learning Disabilities and Related Mild Disabilities: Characteristics, Teaching Strategies, and New Directions. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, Boston, New York. 2012.
4. Lyon GR, Shaywitz SE, Shaywitz BA. A Definition of Dyslexia. Annals of Dyslexia. 2003;53:1-14.
5. Kavale KA, Forness SR. Social Skill Deficits and Learning Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Learning Disabilities. 1996;29(3):226-37. https://doi.org/10.1177/002221949602900301
6. Polanczyk GV, Salum GA, Sugaya LS, Caye A, Rohde LA. Annual Research Review: A Meta‐Analysis of The Worldwide Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2015;56(3):345-65. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12381
7. Peterson RL, Pennington BF. Developmental Dyslexia. The Lancet. 2012;379(9830):1997-2007.
8. Sakhai F, Mazaheri S, Golmohammadi G, Asadollahpour F. Prevalence of Developmental Dyslexia Among Primary School Children in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry. 2025;20(2):223. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v20i2.18204
9. Paul SM. Outcomes of Students With Disabilities in A Developing Country: Tobago. International Journal of Special Education. 2011;26(3):194-211.
10. Vincent L, Chiwandire D. Funding and Inclusion in Higher Education Institutions For Students with Disabilities. African Journal of Disability. 2019;8(1):1-12. https://doi/abs/10.4102/ajod.v8i0.336
11. Robson C, Evans P. Educating Children with Disabilities in Developing Countries: The Role of Data Sets. OECD, Huddersfield, UK; 2003.
12. Alipoor A, Shaghaghi F, Ahmadi Azghandi A, Noferesti A, Hosseinai A. Prevalence of Mathematics Learning Disorder in Elementary Schools. Developmental Psychology. 2012;8:343-353.
13. Ameri MA, Hamzeian A, Alirad S. The Investigate of Prevalence of Learning Disabilities in Students in Grades of Two to Five Elementary Schools and The Awareness Level of Teachers in Semnan Province. Proceedings of the International Conference on Management and Humanities. 2015;29.
14. Echreshavi M, Khalatbari J, Hosseinpour R. Investigating the Prevalence Of Dyslexia And Its Characteristics in Elementary School Students. Middle Eastern Journal of Disability Studies. 2020;10:238-245.
15. Talepasand S, Hanifi Vahed M. Prevalence of Mathematic Disability in Primary Schools. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal. 2012;10(2):28-34.
16. Abtahi M. The Prevalence Of Learning Disorders And Its Relationship With Math Anxiety in First Grade Students in Primary Schools in Qain City (New Math Textbook Based on The National Curriculum). National Primary Education Conference. 2012.
17. khodadadi J, Moosavi Pour S. Prevalence of Dyscalculia Between Second and Fourth Grades in Arak and Reduction Ways. Journal of Learning Disabilities. 2013;2(4):28-44.
18. Hosseinaee A, Aghajani A, Nofresti A. Prevalence Oof Reading And Writing Disabilities Among Primary School Students. Developmental Psychology: Journal of Iranian Psychologists. 2011;7(28):353-63.
19. Gholamiyan Arefi M, Safaeyan S, Ghaemi H, Balouchian G, Dabirian M, Rezaei M, et al. Speech and Reading Disorders Screening, and Problems in Structure and Function of Articulation Organs in Children in Mashhad City, Iran. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal. 2022;20(3):415-24.
20. Eslami M, Akbar Haghdoost A, Afsaneh N, Shahrbabaki Hamideh R. Prevalence of Learning Disability In Primary School Students In Kerman City. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences. 2014;3(3): 534-40.
21. Sedaghati L, Foroughi R, Shafiei B, Maracy MR. Prevalence of Dyslexia in First to Fifth Grade Elementary Students Isfahan, Iran. Audiology. 2010;19(1):94-101.
22. Ramezani M. A Study on the Prevalence of Dyscalculia in Fourth and Fifth Grade Students of Tehran. Journal of Exceptional Children. 2002;2(3):287-306.
23. Shah-Bodaghi M-R. Investigation of Prevalence of Speech and Langvage Disorders Among Of Elementary School Girls Students. Archives of Rehabilitation. 2003;3(4):20-6.
24. Pouretemad HR, Khatibi A, Zarei M, Stein J. Manifestations of Developmental Dyslexia in Monolingual Persian Speaking Students. Archives of Iranian Medicine. 2011;14(4): 259-265.
25. Pashapour N, Yavarian R. Study of Dyslexia Incidence in Urmia Elementary Schools. Research in Medicine. 2000;24(1):3-6.
26. Mihandoost Z. The Survey of Correlate Causes of Learning Disabilities Prevalence Among Elementary Students. Asian Social Science. 2011;7(7):12-8.
27. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG. Preferred Reporting Items For Systematic Reviews And Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. BMJ. 2009; 339-347. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2535
28. Munn Z, Moola S, Lisy K, Riitano D, Tufanaru C. Methodological Guidance for Systematic Reviews of Observational Epidemiological Studies Reporting Prevalence and Cumulative Incidence Data. JBI Evidence Implementation. 2015;13(3):147-53.
29. Shehni Yailagh M, Karami J, Shokrkon H, Mehrabizadeh Honarmand M. Prevalence of Dysgraphia and the Effects of Multi-Sense Therapy on Reduction of Writing Difficulties of Primary School Students in Ahvaz. Journal of Educational Sciences. 2004;10(3):129-44.
30. Narimani M, Rajabi S. A Study of The Prevalence And Causes of Learning Disorders Among Elementary Students of Ardebil Province. Journal of Exceptional Children. 2005;5(3):323-48.
31. Rahimian BE, Sadeghi A. Prevalence of Reading Disorder in Primary School Students. 2007; 12:396-402.
32. Barahmand U, Narimani M, Amani M. The Prevalence of Arithmetic Disorder among Elementary School Children in Ardebil. Journal of Exceptional Children. 2007;6(4):917-30.
33. Mohammadyfar M, Besharat MA, Ghasemi M, Najaphy M. The Study of The Prevalence Rate And Diversity of Specific Learning Disabilities in Students of Primary School of Shiraz City. Educational Psychology. 2007;3(9):22-46.
34. Sharifi AA, Davari R. Prevalence of Reading Disorder a Among Primary School Students in Shahrekord. Journal of Exceptional Children. 2009;8(4):413-8.
35. Sheghaghi M. The Prevalence of Learning Disorders Among Second and Third Grade Elementary School Students in Khoramdareh City. National Conference on Elementary Education. 2015.
36. Sharifi A, Davari R. Prevalence of Learning Disabilities in First and Second Grade Students of Elementary School in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province. Journal of Learning Disabilities. 2012;1(2):63-76.
37. Nojabaee S, Amoopour M, Azarnoosh K. Evaluation of Prevalence and Diversity of Learning Disorders Among Elementary School Students in Rasht City. Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review (Kuwait Chapter). 2012;1(5):1-13.
38. Ghorbanibirgani A. An Epidemiologic Study of Dyslexia Among Male Students in Primary Schools in Ahvaz-Iran 2013-14. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2014;1(1):27-35.
39. Zare Bahramabadi M, Ganji K. The Study of Prevalence of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and It’s Comorbidity with Learning Disorder (LD) in Primary School’s Students. Journal of Learning Disabilities. 2014;3(4):25-43.
40. Moinalghorabaie F, Islam M, Fadaee M. Prevalence of Learning Disabilities Among Primary School Students in North Khorasan Province. Journal of Learning Disabilities. 2015;5(1):101-24.
41. Hakim A, Ghorbanibirgani A. Prevalence of Dyslexia Among Male Students in Primary Schools And Its Relationship with Obesity And Being Overweight in Ahvaz, Iran. International Journal Of Community Based Nursing And Midwifery. 2015;3(2):116.
42. Yavari A, Valizadeh A, Maroufizadeh S, Panahian M. The Prevalence of Dyslexia Among School Age Persian Speaking Students in Arak, Iran. Function and Disability Journal. 2019; 2:13. https://doi.org/10.34171/fdj.2.13
43. Pourmohamadrezatajrishi M, Yousefi M, Hemmati S, Bakhshi E. Prevalence of Non-Verbal Learning Disorder in Male Students in Karaj City. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2020;11(4):77-87.
44. Yousefi M, BAKHSHI E. The Prevalence of Nonverbal Learning Disorder in Female Students. Developmental Psychology. 2021; 69:23-36.
45. Ansari S, Nikkhah M, Ahmadi P, Salehi A. Comparison of the Prevalence And Types of Learning Disorders Among Monolingual And Bilingual Students in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. New Advances in Educational Psychology and Education. 2021;4(37):85-96.
46. Bozatlı L, Aykutlu HC, Sivrikaya Giray A, Ataş T, Özkan Ç, Güneydaş Yıldırım B, et al. Children at Risk of Specific Learning Disorder: A Study on Prevalence and Risk Factors. Children. 2024;11(7):759. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11070759
47. Joseph JK, Devu BK. Prevalence and Pattern of Learning Disability in India: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis. Indian Journal of Psychiatric Nursing. 2022;19(2):152-62. https://doi.org/10.4103/iopn.iopn_7_22
48. Mariño MC, Ageitos AG, Alvarez JA, del Rio Garma M, Cendón CG, Castaño AG, et al. Prevalence of Neurodevelopmental, Behavioural And Learning Disorders In Paediatric Primary Care. Anales de Pediatría (English Edition). 2018;89(3):153-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anpede.2017.10.005
49. Lin Y, Zhang X, Huang Q, Lv L, Huang A, Li A, et al. The Prevalence of Dyslexia in Primary School Children and Their Chinese Literacy Assessment in Shantou, China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(19):7140. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197140
50. Yang L, Li C, Li X, Zhai M, An Q, Zhang Y, et al. Prevalence of Developmental Dyslexia in Primary School Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Brain Sciences. 2022;12(2):240. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12020240
51. Fortes IS, Paula CS, Oliveira MC, Bordin IA, de Jesus Mari J, Rohde LA. A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess The Prevalence of DSM-5 Specific Learning Disorders in Representative School Samples From The Second to Sixth Grade in Brazil. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 2016;25:195-207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-015-0708-2
52. Aldakhil AF. Prevalence of Developmental Dyslexia Among Primary School Children in Arab Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 2024;152:104812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104812
53. Di Folco C, Guez A, Peyre H, Ramus F. Epidemiology of Reading Disability: A Comparison of DSM-5 and ICD-11 Criteria. Scientific Studies of Reading. 2022;26(4):337-55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888438.2021.1998067
54. Sun Z, Zou L, Zhang J, Mo S, Shao S, Zhong R, et al. Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Dyslexic Children in a Middle-Sized City of China: A Cross-Sectional Study. Plos One. 2013;8(2):e56688. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0056688
55. Keong WK, Pang V, Eng CK, Keong TC, editors. Prevalence Rate of Dyscalculia According to Gender and School Location in Sabah, Malaysia. 7th International Conference on University Learning and Teaching (InCULT 2014) Proceedings: Educate to Innovate; 2016: Springer.
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| Issue | Articles in Press | |
| Section | Review Article(s) | |
| Keywords | ||
| Learning disabilities; Dyslexia; Dyscalculia; Dysgraphia; Prevalence; Students | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
How to Cite
1.
Holakouee A, Aghaz A, Mokhtari Fard R. The Prevalence of Learning Disabilities among Elementary School Children in Iran from 1990 to 2025: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. jmr. 2025;(-).
