Perception of emotions in anxious and learning disabled children

This study examined differences in the ability to perceive others' emotions in anxious and learning disabled children, as these differences may contri bute to these children's unique socio-emotional difficulties and therapeuti c needs. Forty-six children ages 8 to 12 with either anxiety disorders (ANX ), language-based learning disabilities (LD), both conditions, or neither c ondition (clinical controls) were compared on the DANVA, a standardized mea sure of auditory and visual perception of emotion. Group results were then compared to normative data. Using multivariate analyses, significant group differences were found on the auditory portion of the DANVA but not on the visual portion. LD and comorbid children scored lower on several auditory s timuli, especially when presented at low emotional intensity, while ANX and comet-bid children showed high accuracy for auditory sadness. Comorbid chi ldren also had lower auditory DANVA scores than the normative sample. No in teractive effects between ANX and LD were found. ANX and LD each appear to have distinct effects on the auditory perception of others' emotions. Child ren with both conditions show both effects and differ from normal children in this domain. Replication using larger samples is required. (C) 2000 Wile y-Liss, Inc.