Week 5 - Learning Difficulties

Question 1

What is Dyspraxia also known as?

Answer 1

Developmental coordination disorder

Question 2

How does DCD affect daily living?

Answer 2

• Slow, messy, disorganised handwriting
• Issues with sports
• Issues with dressing
• Socially isolated in the playground
• Finding their way around places

Question 3

What is the criterion for DCD?

Answer 3

Criterion A: Acquisition & execution of coordinated motor skills is substantially below expectations given their chronological age & opportunity for skill learning and use

• Difficulties are manifested as: clumsiness, slowness and inaccuracy of performance of motor skill (e.g. catching an object)

Criterion B: Motor skill deficit in criterion A significantly and persistently interferes with ADLs appropriate to chronological age

• Impact academic / school productivity, prevocational and vocational activities, leisure and play

Criterion C: onset of symptoms usually in the early developmental period, not typically diagnosed under 5 years

• If a 3-5 year old shows motor impairment despite adequate opportunities -> diagnosis may be based on 2 assessments, at least 3 months apart

Criterion D: motor skills deficits are not better explained by intellectual disability / neurological condition

Question 4

What are some common difficulties faced by DCD children?

Answer 4

• Having to use their eyes to compensate (i.e. looking at feet while walking down stairs)
• Difficulty orientating themselves (i.e. getting from point A to B)

Question 5

What is the difference in performance between a child with DCD and a child without?

Answer 5

Typical: able to stabilize trunk and muscles, perform and learn skills with ease

DCD: difficulty stabilising muscle and trunk, does not learn by observing, approach is ransomed and disorganised, extra facial movements

Question 6

What are the different types of Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)?

Answer 6

• Dyslexia (reading, spelling)
• Dyscalculia (math, counting)
• Dysgraphia (handwriting)

Question 7

What is the criterion for SLD?

Answer 7

• Must have continued for at least 6 months despite targeted help
• Difficulties must not be due to: ID, external factors (instructions, environment), vision or hearing problem, limited English proficiency

Question 8

What is the criterion for Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder?

Answer 8

Criterion A: Persistent difficulties in the social use of verbal & non-verbal communication as manifested by all of the following

• deficits in using communication for social purposes, such as greeting and sharing information, in a manner that is appropriate for the social context
• impairment of the ability to change communication to match context or the need of the listener, such as speaking differently in a classroom as compared to in the playground
• difficulty following rules for conversation and storytelling , such as taking turns in conversations, rephrasing when misunderstood, and knowing how to use verbal and non-verbal signals to regulate interaction
• difficulty understanding what is not explicitly stated (i.e. inferencing) and non-literal or ambiguous meanings of language (i.e. idioms, metaphors that depends on the context for interpretation)

Criterion B: deficits result in functional limitations in effective communication, social participation, social relationships, academic achievement or occupational performance, individually or in combination

Criterion C: onset of symptoms is in the early developmental period but deficits may not fully manifest until social communication demands exceed capacities

Criterion D: symptoms are not attributed to other medical condition / neurological condition

Question 9

What are the 3 core symptoms of ADHD?

Answer 9

1. Inattention: wanders off task, lack persistence, difficulty sustaining focus, disorganised
2. Hyperactivity: moving about constantly even in situations that are not appropriate (tap, talk, fidget), in adults may be extreme restlessness
3. Impulsivity: make hasty without thinking about them, desire for immediate rewards, inability to have delayed gratification

Question 10

What is the criterion for ADHD?

Answer 10

Criterion A: at least 6 of each symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity & impulsivity persist for more than 6 months to a degree that is inconsistent with developmental level, affecting occupational activities

Criterion B: several inattention / hyperactive-impulsive symptoms were present prior to the age of 12

Criterion C: several inattention / hyperactive-impulsive symptoms are present in 2 or more settings (i.e. home, school, work; with friends / relatives; in other activities)

Criterion D: clear evidence that symptoms interferes with, or reduce the quality of social, academic or occupational functioning

Criterion E: symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder, and are not better explained by another medical disorder

Question 11

What can specific learning difficulties include?

Answer 11

• DCD
• Autism
• ADHD
• Specific learning disorder (dyslexia)
• Social (Pragmatic) communication disorder