Background/Purpose: A previous study (ArthRheum;S10:956) has shown that Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients may have learning disabilities. Experts in the field have identified seven types of learning disabilities. We queried FMS patients about the types of learning disabilities they might have.

Methods: 111 patients meeting the 2010 ACR criteria for Fibromyalgia, followed in a rheumatology office practice, were asked to fill out a questionnaire listing multiple questions and problems relating to learning disabilities. Based on responses, tentative classifications of specific learning disabilities were made from the following classifications: dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, central auditory processing disorder, non-verbal learning disorder, visual processing disorder, and aphasia/dysphasia/global aphasia. 

Results: According to FMS patients responses to a questionnaire, possible categories of learning disabilities were: 48.6% central auditory processing disorder; 36.9% dysphasia/global aphasia disorder; 34.2% visual processing disorder; 35.1% dyscalculia; 29.7% dysgraphia; 26.1%  dyslexia; and 25.2% non verbal learning disorder.

 Conclusion: Although a tentative diagnosis of a learning disability needs to be confirmed by a learning disability expert, these findings suggest that fibromyalgia patients may have multiple types of learning disabilities. The most common learning disability was central auditory processing disorder, an auditory disability causing difficulty processing verbal information and interpreting speech. It is possible that learning disability specialists could help FMS patients improve their performance at school and work.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/can-we-help-identify-learning-disabilities-in-fibromyalgia-patients/