Learning Disability or Error of Growth?

Abstract

This paper presents the case of a boy nearly nine years of age who behaves like a 5 1/2 to 6-year-old, and discusses the question: when a child's behavior fits his body's age but is far behind what one would expect from his birthday age, must he be considered immature and/or defective? Or can expectations and handling be adapted to his body age and can behavior which fits his body age be considered relatively normal, for him, even though far behind expectation?