Thesis (B.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003. / "A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, April 30, 2003." Includes bibliographical references (p. 29-30) Also available in print.

Orientadora: Ana Claudia Figueiredo Frizzo / Banca: Katia de Freitas Alvarenga / Banca: Simone Aparecida Capellini / Resumo: Indivíduos com alterações de leitura e escrita podem apresentar disfunções visuais, auditivas e vestibular bem como atraso no desenvolvimento das funções perceptuais. Tanto os sistemas auditivos e visuais podem ser avaliados por meio de testes eletrofisiológicos auditivos-Potencial cognitivo, e visuais-vectoeletronistagmografia e são úteis na avaliação de crianças com transtorno de aprendizagem. Objetivos: descrever e comparar os resultados dos potenciais evocados auditivos (N1, P2, N2 e P3) entre os grupos GI, GII e GIII, descrever e comparar os resultados das provas oculares entre os grupos GI, GII e GIII. Método: participaram deste estudo 28 escolares, de ambos os gêneros entre 8 a 11 anos de idade do 3º ao 5º ano de escolas públicas municipais de Marília-SP, essas crianças foram divididas em três grupos: Grupo I (GI): 10 escolares disléxicos; Grupo II (GII): 9 com distúrbio de aprendizagem; Grupo III (GIII): 9 crianças sem transtorno aprendizagem. Foi realizada a avaliação do potencial evocado auditivo cognitivo (paradigma oddball - discriminação de frequência e duração) e realizado a avaliação visual por meio da vectoeletronistagmografia. Os dados foram analisados pela estatística descritiva da média, desvio padrão, mínimo e máximo. Na sequência, foram feitas análises comparativas entre os grupos com o Test F-ANOVA. No teste do potencial cognitivo auditivo o grupo com dislexia apresentou valores de latência mais curtos e amplitudes menores no P2 e P3 - frequência e P3 - duração, o grupo com transtornos de aprendizagem apresentou latência alongada e amplitudes menores no N2 e P3 - frequência e P3 - duração. Na avaliação visual - vectoeletronistagmografia, a comparação das provas de movimentos sacádicos, nistagmo optocinético e rastreio pendular mostrou que nos grupos de disléxicos ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Individuals with reading and writing changes may have visual, hearing and vestibular disorders as well as delayed development of perceptual functions. Both auditory and visual systems can be assessed through auditory electrophysiological tests- cognitive potentials, and visual-vectoelectronystagmography and are useful in assessing children with learning disorders. Objectives: To describe and to compare the results of auditory evoked potentials (N1, P2, N2 and P3) between GI, GII and GIII groups; to describe and to compare the results of ocular evidence between GI, GII and GIII. Method: participants were 28 students, of both genders between 8-11 years of age (mean age 9.5 years), from 3rd to 5th grades of public schools in Marília-SP. These children were divided into three groups: Group I (GI): 10 dyslexic students; Group II (GII): 9 students with learning disabilities; Group III (GIII): 9 students with no learning disorders. Auditory evoked potential assessment (oddball paradigm - frequency and duration discrimination) and visual assessment through vectoelectronystagmography were performed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum. Next, a comparative analysis between the groups with F-Test ANOVA was carried out. Results: In the auditory cognitive potential test, the group with dyslexia showed shorter latencies and smaller amplitudes in P2 and P3 - frequency and P3 - duration; the group with learning disorders presented longer latencies and lower amplitudes in N2 and P3 - frequency and P3 - duration. In visual assessment - vectoelectronystagmography, a comparison of saccadic movements, optokinetic nystagmus and pendular tracking showed that in the groups with dyslexic and learning disorder students, the movement is slower in the left eye. Conclusion: there was difference between the auditory ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

This study is unique in investigating instances of Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia) among mature students in British institutes of tertiary education. Despite growing awareness of this condition, it is only during the last thirty years that cases of dyslexia among adults have been distinguished from aphasia. Assessments were conducted using a structured questionnaire, psychometric tests, measures of attainment, vocational interest and personality. Test results provided support for the view that dyslexia is characterised by a discrepancy between language skills and intellectual ability accompanied by measurable cognitive differences. Significant differences were found on tests of short term memory, while spelling difficulties were the most enduring form of written language difficulty. Differences found on measures of personality, are thought to reflect an interaction between personality and coping strategies. Most subjects had felt constrained to take Jobs with a low interest level, ie. they had compromised their vocational interests and subsequently achieved lower socio-economic status than their fathers. The investigation into the provision made by British universities revealed that very few have any formal policy for dealing with dyslexic students. Most were unable to state what course support or examination concessions were available. In a study of factors related to modality, dyslexic students took longer to read material and remembered less than other groups. When using multi-modal material dyslexic subjects remembered more but must reconcile improving their recall ability with the expense of spending more time. In a second study of factors thought to influence the marking of scripts It was found that higher marks were not awarded to typewritten scripts free from spelling errors. Changes in format only influenced the focus of the tutors' comments. The conclusions are that dyslexia does not improve spontaneously, the dyslexic child is likely to become a dyslexic adult who will continue to experience difficulties with language skills, especially spelling, while the individuals educational, social and occupational ambitions are likely to be compromised because of their specific learning difficulties.

Research indicates that executive functioning is a multidimensional construct in school-age children (Korkman, Kemp, & Kirk, 2001; Welsh & Pennington, 1988). Executive dysfunction is primarily associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; Barkley, 2003). This association is because of a `core' deficit in inhibitory control found in ADHD-Combined Type (ADHD-C; Barkley, 1997); however, inhibitory control is only one component of executive functioning. Children with dyslexia are thought to demonstrate a `core' deficit in phonological awareness (Wagner & Torgesen, 1987). However, little consideration is given to the potential executive deficits that may exist in children with dyslexia. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to test for convergent and divergent executive functioning deficits in 8-to 12-year-old children with ADHD or dyslexia using a comprehensive battery of executive measures. On neuropsychological measures when intelligence (IQ) was used as a covariate, the ADHD group did not demonstrate divergent deficits while children with dyslexia had deficits in nonverbal fluency. No convergent deficits were found. When IQ was not used as a covariate, children with ADHD and dyslexia were found to have convergent deficits in nonverbal fluency and problem-solving. Furthermore, children with dyslexia had divergent deficits in processing speed and phonological short-term storage. On a behavioral rating measure (BRIEF) children with ADHD-C and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder-Predominantly Inattentive (ADHD-PI) had convergent deficits in behavioral regulation while children with ADHD-C, ADHD-PI, and dyslexia were all rated more poorly on a metacognitive factor compared to controls. An exploratory analysis was conducted to further understand convergent and divergent abilities on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF). Results indicated that ADHD-C and ADHD-PI shared deficits on the metacognitive subscales, but that ADHD-C demonstrated divergent deficits on subscales of behavioral regulation, particularly Inhibit, and on a Monitor subscale. Children with dyslexia were rated comparably to controls on all subscales of the BRIEF. Overall, it was found that executive deficits were not exclusive to ADHD. Rather, children with ADHD and dyslexia demonstrated convergent and divergent executive functioning deficits. The convergent deficits warrant further investigation as to whether they are a source of the comorbidity between dyslexia and ADHD. The limitations of the present study, recommendations for future directions, and clinical implications are discussed.

The research explores the experience that students with Dyslexia, on law degrees, have of academic assessment, and the environmental factors that influence their experience and perceptions. The research is situated in one HEI (the Research Institution), which has a student population of 18,800, of which 634 had declared a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) (including Dyslexia) during the academic year 2014/15. Previous research has shown that students with Dyslexia are disadvantaged by traditional forms of academic assessment. Whilst little research has been carried out on Dyslexia and law degrees, the predominance of traditional approaches to assessment is commonly believed to disadvantage students with Dyslexia. This potential disadvantage is explored within the Research Institution (RI). In light of their obligation under the Equality Act 2010 to take reasonable steps to alleviate such disadvantages, specific consideration is given to the RI’s response to potential disadvantages faced by such students. In order to facilitate this objective a multiple-methods approach has been utilised for gathering data. Data has been collected through questionnaires, focus groups and interviews, with law students with and without Dyslexia, with lecturers inside and outside the law school, and with student support staff and other professionals. The range of data was then analysed, utilising an inductive approach. Five main themes emerged, and were explored using a social model of Dyslexia and from an emancipatory perspective. The themes are: 1) diagnosis and categorisation of Dyslexia; 2) the students’ experience of academic assessment; 3) the students’ experience of adjustments to academic assessment; 4) the impact of the law school environment on the experience of students with Dyslexia, and 5) the effect of the wider institutional environment and institutional policy and practice on the experiences and perceptions of how students with Dyslexia, and how they are responded to. The data collected pointed to the fact that students with Dyslexia struggled with traditional academic assessment, to a more significant degree than students without Dyslexia. While reasonable adjustments were provided by the institution to help students with Dyslexia overcome such difficulties, and whilst these were helpful to some extent, their overall effectiveness was shown to be limited. The main reasons for the student experiences that emerged from the research were related to the fact that, due to their Dyslexia, the forms of assessment used by their department presented a direct difficulty for students. Traditional forms of assessment utilised on law degrees are therefore considered to be a ‘disabling barrier’, as they inhibit students with Dyslexia from fully demonstrating their academic ability. The thesis then presents pointers to how law degree providers can respond to this issue. It is argued that this can be achieved by adjusting assessment methods in a way that removes, or at least reduces, the ‘disabling barriers’ faced by law students with Dyslexia. The research suggests that this is made possible by utilising a broader range of assessment methods beyond those traditionally utilised in law degrees. It also details how the individualistic nature of Dyslexia means that the most effective means of improving inclusivity for all students is to provide them with elements of choice as to the form of assessment adopted. The research concludes with proposals for alleviating the disadvantage experienced by law students with Dyslexia in respect of their experience of the academic assessment process and academic assessment outcomes. It is argued that to enhance the quality of their learning opportunities, and in order to be inclusive, academic assessment policy and practice should be informed by/premised upon a social interpretation of Dyslexia.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-13T12:10:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-03-26. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-07-13T12:25:46Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000838900.pdf: 1842884 bytes, checksum: e54f4b1d457e058b3bae38e06441849e (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Indivíduos com alterações de leitura e escrita podem apresentar disfunções visuais, auditivas e vestibular bem como atraso no desenvolvimento das funções perceptuais. Tanto os sistemas auditivos e visuais podem ser avaliados por meio de testes eletrofisiológicos auditivos-Potencial cognitivo, e visuais-vectoeletronistagmografia e são úteis na avaliação de crianças com transtorno de aprendizagem. Objetivos: descrever e comparar os resultados dos potenciais evocados auditivos (N1, P2, N2 e P3) entre os grupos GI, GII e GIII, descrever e comparar os resultados das provas oculares entre os grupos GI, GII e GIII. Método: participaram deste estudo 28 escolares, de ambos os gêneros entre 8 a 11 anos de idade do 3º ao 5º ano de escolas públicas municipais de Marília-SP, essas crianças foram divididas em três grupos: Grupo I (GI): 10 escolares disléxicos; Grupo II (GII): 9 com distúrbio de aprendizagem; Grupo III (GIII): 9 crianças sem transtorno aprendizagem. Foi realizada a avaliação do potencial evocado auditivo cognitivo (paradigma oddball - discriminação de frequência e duração) e realizado a avaliação visual por meio da vectoeletronistagmografia. Os dados foram analisados pela estatística descritiva da média, desvio padrão, mínimo e máximo. Na sequência, foram feitas análises comparativas entre os grupos com o Test F-ANOVA. No teste do potencial cognitivo auditivo o grupo com dislexia apresentou valores de latência mais curtos e amplitudes menores no P2 e P3 - frequência e P3 - duração, o grupo com transtornos de aprendizagem apresentou latência alongada e amplitudes menores no N2 e P3 - frequência e P3 - duração. Na avaliação visual - vectoeletronistagmografia, a comparação das provas de movimentos sacádicos, nistagmo optocinético e rastreio pendular mostrou que nos grupos de disléxicos e com transtorno de aprendizagem o movimento é mais lento no olho esquerdo. Conclusão: houve... / Individuals with reading and writing changes may have visual, hearing and vestibular disorders as well as delayed development of perceptual functions. Both auditory and visual systems can be assessed through auditory electrophysiological tests- cognitive potentials, and visual-vectoelectronystagmography and are useful in assessing children with learning disorders. Objectives: To describe and to compare the results of auditory evoked potentials (N1, P2, N2 and P3) between GI, GII and GIII groups; to describe and to compare the results of ocular evidence between GI, GII and GIII. Method: participants were 28 students, of both genders between 8-11 years of age (mean age 9.5 years), from 3rd to 5th grades of public schools in Marília-SP. These children were divided into three groups: Group I (GI): 10 dyslexic students; Group II (GII): 9 students with learning disabilities; Group III (GIII): 9 students with no learning disorders. Auditory evoked potential assessment (oddball paradigm - frequency and duration discrimination) and visual assessment through vectoelectronystagmography were performed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum. Next, a comparative analysis between the groups with F-Test ANOVA was carried out. Results: In the auditory cognitive potential test, the group with dyslexia showed shorter latencies and smaller amplitudes in P2 and P3 - frequency and P3 - duration; the group with learning disorders presented longer latencies and lower amplitudes in N2 and P3 - frequency and P3 - duration. In visual assessment - vectoelectronystagmography, a comparison of saccadic movements, optokinetic nystagmus and pendular tracking showed that in the groups with dyslexic and learning disorder students, the movement is slower in the left eye. Conclusion: there was difference between the auditory cognitive and visual measures between control, dyslexic and learning disorders groups; this...

The formal assessment of dyslexia within the UK higher education sector is a relatively recent practice. The extant literature that there is reflects this historical observation. Missing from this body of literature, though, is any insight gained via systematic studies into the professional practice of those individuals directly responsible for identifying dyslexia in higher education students. In an academic climate where the very concept of dyslexia is being increasingly questioned, the perspectives of dyslexia assessors, together with those of other groups most closely affected by assessors’ practice, constitute an important area of knowledge for all parties concerned with higher education pedagogical and disability issues. This thesis is based on results from the collection and careful analysis of such perspectives acquired through four surveys of large numbers of participants and a smaller number of interviews with practicing dyslexia assessors. The study’s findings reflect both the diversity encompassed by the dyslexia concept within the higher education sector, as well as the complex relationship that exists between dyslexia research and its operationalization into the practice of individual assessors. Whilst data from assessor participants displayed a detailed lack of consensus on one level, this analysis was overridden on another level by a general consensus amongst interviewees around the main purpose and foci of assessment. Lecturers’ and non-dyslexic students’ understanding of, and attitudes towards, dyslexia and dyslexic students were indirectly influenced by assessors’ practice, particularly by what they invariably observed as the heterogeneity of assessed dyslexic students. Dyslexic students, in identifying their self- perceived difficulties, exemplified this diversity within the category. The study’s findings, based on the informed perspectives of its relevant participants, suggest that much current higher education policy and practice around the recognition of dyslexia is based on erroneous unexamined assumptions. The thesis concludes with tentative suggestions as to how the assessment of dyslexia and subsequent provision for the learning difference could be more streamlined with both contemporary research positions and institutions’ commitment to move towards greater inclusivity.

No description available.

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF EDUCATION in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Needs Education of the Faculty of Education at the University of Zululand, 2008. / The aim of this study was to pursue an investigation into the impact reading disabilities have on the academic achievement of a primary school learner. From the literature study it became evident that learners with reading problems are faced with a lot of problems in primary schools. These problems are manifest in the form of prejudice stigmatization, humiliation and pressure as they often find the teaching and learning materials beyond their scope of comprehension. There is a need for educator support so that they can fine-tune their instruction to suit the level of the learners with reading problems and for educators to garner the support of parents who may be uninterested about what obtains at school. Learners with reading problems can be helped by educators whose learning activities are well planned and prepared and their presentation has to captivate the learner’s attention, interest and involvement. If learners with reading problems do not receive adequate support, they may exhibit the following:  Behavioural problems e.g. being disobedient to the educator.  Have a low frustration threshold.  Develop a negative self-esteem.  Set unrealistic goals for themselves.  Ultimately drop out of school.  Play truant  Shirk their school work.  Absent themselves from school. Nevertheless, educators need to create a stimulating atmosphere, to exploit reinforcement strategies and set good examples, such as:  Tangible motivators, for example, stars, edibles (nuts and fruits), cinema tickets, colouring books.  Activity orientated motivators such as helping the educator, free play, watching television, painting or drawing.  Social motivators, such as a smile, nod of head etc. In conclusion a summary was presented on the findings of the literature and empirical study and recommendations are made based on the nature of assistance required by the educators in order to help the learner with reading problems. The recommendations touched on remedial approaches and teaching activities that educators need to utilize to help the reading disabled learner. Further research should be conducted on barriers to learning that could emanate from inappropriate pedagogy, insufficient support for educators, inappropriate and unfair assessment procedures

No description available.