Child Psychopathology Learning Disability Interventions Videotape Attention Deficits

Child Psychopathology Learning Disability Interventions Videotape Attention Deficits Chapter 5

Videotape on Learning Disabilities • Case of “Andy” Full Scale IQ = 130, yet writing barely legible even at age 9, still full of reversals, poor reproduction of shapes • Parents initially queried problems learning letters, reversals, poor reading in grade 1 • Special school was used, low ratios, tasks more segmented, greater acceptance of difficulties, higher structure, reinforcing

LD: Cycle of failure and motivation • There is a cycle of failure, internal attributions of failure (“I am stupid”), external blame (“School is dumb”), loss of motivation to try, (“What is the point”), leading to further failure, which becomes self-fulfilling. • Comorbid depression, anxiety, and self-esteem problems • Conflict with parents • Conflict with teachers • Peer problems can arise • Cycle must be stopped • Build on successes

Learning Disorders: Treatments and prevention • Early identification and treatment, e. g. , reading recovery, parental reading; Later, special placements • Children are usually in regular classrooms with extra assistance either in or outside of classroom • Direct instruction is necessary, e. g. , sound-letter correspondence, steps in math problems, monitoring spelling and grammar • Whole language vs. Code-empasis model of reading instruction. The former is good to create initial interest, but skills must be taught • Metacognitive training: What are you doing? How long has it taken? Am you “on task”? External cues