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Unit 17 : Identification: Causes, Problems of Learning Disabilities

studying in the general classroom. They are not easily identified at pre-primary levels. The Notes
disability becomes obvious when they start learning numbers and simple addition and
substraction. If identified early and with appropriate correction, they can study in the regular
classes. If the problems is severe, the child will not be able to learn number symbols and their
relationships. This is also termed as loss of arithmetic ability. The severe cases are difficult for
integration and will require intensive remedial exercises.
There are some specific problems of learning disabled children which are as follows:
(i) Eye-Hand-Co-ordination (EHC), (2) Figure Ground Perception (FG). (3) Figure Constancy
(FC), (4) Position in Space (PS). (5) Spatial Relations (SR). and (6) Auditory Perception (AP).
Last four areas represent the aspect of cognitive functioning, viz; (7) Memory (M), (8) Cognitive
Abilities (CA). (9) Receptive Language (RL) and (10) Expressive language (EL).

What is the memory problem of LD children?
Self Assessment

2. Multiple Choice Questions
Choose the correct option:
(i) The mild learning disabled face problems in learning basic ................. skills.
(a) academic (b) professional (c) systematic (d) higher
(ii) The problem may not due to .................
(a) cerebral dysfunction (b) accident
(c) emotional disturbance (d) behavioural disturbance
(iii) Children with learning disability differ in their behavioral .................
(a) changes (b) concepts (c) characteristics (d) skills
(iv) Nearly of ................. learning disabled children have reading problems and have poor academic
achievement.
(a) 70 to 80% (b) 80 to 85% (c) 85 to 90% (d) 90 to 110%

17.4 Diagnosis of LD Children

Assessment of pre-school level children can be made as per DIAL model (Developmental Indicators
for the Assessment of Learning). It is meant for 21/2 to 51/2 year old in the areas of sensory, motor,
affective, social, conceptual, language communication in less than 30 minutes. The tests consists of
visual and auditory activity, gross motor movements, fine motor movements, finger agility, anxiety,
task attention, focus and persistence, social skills, identifying objects, colours, sorting, receiving and
expressing language, articulation etc.
At the elementary and secondary level identifications of learning disabilities become relatively easier
because availability of instruments, teacher observations and achievement index. Each learning
disabled child undergoes neurological examinations, Reading tests, Visual- motor Gestalt tests
requiring them to copy various geometric forms, awareness of one’s body parts (Draw a Man Test).
Findings (hearing sounds) and bio-chemical sreening. These medical characteristics are necessary to
deal with learning disabled children besides intellectual and achievement scores.
The following tests are commonly used in diagnosis of LD.
1. Informal Graded word-Recognition Test. It measures quickly reading level and errors.
2. Information reading Inventory-It measure quickly reading skills, reading levels, types of errors,
unknown words, related behavioural characteristics.
3. Informal Arithmetic Test.

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