Larry B. Silver, M.D., a pioneering child and adolescent psychiatrist, renowned author, and tireless advocate for children with learning disabilities and ADHD, passed away on April 7, 2026, at the age of 92.
Dr. Silver was widely recognized as a preeminent authority on the psychological and social impacts of neurologically based disorders. His professional journey was marked by significant leadership roles, including serving as the Acting Director and Deputy Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. He later served as Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he also directed the training program in child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Silver maintained a private practice in the Washington, D.C. area for over 30 years. He was known among his patients and colleagues for his warmth, his tireless efforts to improve the quality of life for children, and his firm belief that with the right support, every child could succeed. He authored more than 150 publications, most notably the seminal book The Misunderstood Child: Understanding and Coping with Your Child’s Learning Disabilities, which became a foundational resource for families navigating the education system.
Dr. Silver was a founding member of the Learning Disabilities Association of America. He served as President of the LDA Board and in1992 he received this Association’s highest award, The Learning Disability Association Award, for outstanding leadership in the field of learning disabilities. In 1996 he received the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Berman Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the study and treatment of Learning Disabilities.
LDA is grateful for Dr. Silver’s dedication to the mission of LDA and to children with learning disabilities and their families. We feel especially honored that, before his death, he asked his family to ask for donations to LDA in his memory.
