The cases presented in this paper are representative of two types of children who came to the Northwest School during the past ten years: the child who suffers from an all-pervasive learning disorder is tied to his mother in a partially symbiotic relationship which prevents him from functioning independently of her or from recognizing his abilities and limitations, and his reality orientation is impaired.

The other type is the child whose learning disorder is limited to certain areas. We consider him a success neurosis of childhood, based upon an oedipal conflict.