Psychological intervention for specific learning disability: A case report.

Cognitive deficits resulting in poor scholastic performance are common among children with specific learning disabilities. Current study was carried out to identify areas of deficits leading to poor academic performance followed by a home based remediation program for rehabilitation of impaired skills. Single case study method was opted and assessment of academic skills was done using NIMHANS Index for Specific Learning Disability (SLD). Assessment findings revealed significant impairment in scholastic skills and attention processes. Management of identified deficits was planned and weekly sittings of remediation were provided for six months. Monitoring of the rehabilitation package was done on every visit using charting method. Improvement in academic skills/ performance was seen in later sessions.

Prevalence of specific developmental disorder of scholastic skill in school students in Chandigarh, India.

Background & objectives: Several studies have been conducted in India to determine the prevalence of learning disabilities in school children which has been reported to be 3-10 per cent among students population. The present study was conducted to find out prevalence of specific developmental disorder of scholastic skills in students of classes VII to XII and to find out feasibility of screening tool in Chandigarh, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study on school students was carried out in two phases. The students were drawn from classes VII to XII from 10 schools of Chandigarh, India. Details of academic performance of all the students was taken, subjectively from class teachers and objectively from the marks obtained in the last academic session. In phase I, 2402 students were assessed. In phase II, 108 students were randomly selected for evaluation for assessing sensitivity and specificity of screening proforma for teachers. A total of 124 students from phase I and all students in phase II were assessed in detail. Tests of intelligence (Malin’s Intelligence Scale for Indian Children and Standard Progressive Matrices), and NIMHANS Index for specific learning disability (SLD) battery were administered. Results: A total of 38 students were found to be having specific developmental disorder of scholastic skills in phase I, that gave a prevalence of 1.58 per cent. Majority had mixed type of errors on SLD battery. There were more boys diagnosed with specific learning disability. Teacher’s screening instrument had high sensitivity (90.385) and specificity (94.68). Interpretation & conclusions: The findings of our study conducted in community, showed that specific learning disability was not identified even till later age. The screening instrument thus could be used by teachers to suspect students with specific learning disability.

Clinical Diagnosis and Non-Verbal Ability of Primary-One School Children with LD

More school children were referred for learning difficutly (LD), especially after the introduction of LINUS sccreening programme by Ministry of Education Malaysia. To study the clinical diagnosis and non-verbal ability of primary-one school children with LD after paediatric assessment, as well as associated behavioural issues and socio-economincal background. Assessment findings by Paediatricians and Naglieri Non-Verbal Ability Test® (NNAT®) results of all primary-one school children referred in year 2010 with LD were studied retrospectively. Ninety-three children were included (62.4% male), and 72.0% of them failed the LINUS screening programme. The commonest diagnoses were Borderline Intellectual Disability (ID, 37.6%) and Mild ID (19.4%). Other diagnoses included Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD, 11.8%), Specific Learning Disability (SLD, 10.8%), Autistic Spectrum Disorder (n = 5) and Severe Language Disorder (n = 3). Mean NNAT scores were 84.6 ± 11.8 (n = 85), of which 9.4% children scored less than 70 (<2nd percentile), while 63.7% scored between 71 and 90 (3rd-24th percentile). Twenty-three children(27.1%) scored 90 - 110 (25th-75th percentile) and 111-119 (76th-90th percentile). More than two-thirds of the parents never attended school, or only received education up to Form 3. Nearly 80% of mothers were housewife and 78.7% of fathers were labour or semi-skilled workers. A significant numbers of children with ADHD, Borderline ID, Mild ID and Severe Language Disorder / SLD had significant or borderline internalizing and/or externalizing behaviours.Majority of primary-one school children referred for LD do not have intellectual disability. Their clinical diagnosis and non-verbal ability were very variable. A significant number of them have poor socio-economical background and associated behavioural problems. A more realistic education system and targeted program should be offered.