Psychology of learning disorders (2007/2008)

Learning outcomes

Learning disabilities are a very heterogeneous group of disorders (linguistic, attentional, related to literacy, numeracy and to social behaviour) to which psychology has paid great attention. Their early identification and assessment allows educators, teachers and clinicians to design educational programmes suitable to LD children, allowing them to pursue effectively the scholastic career and to learn those abilities which are functional to his/her social and working integration (reading, writing, mathematical skills, problem solving, etc.). The discipline aims at introducing students to learning disabilities and illustrating the most recent techniques of diagnosis, assessment and intervention developed in research and clinical contexts.

a)Introduction to LD: definition and aetiology.
b)Intelligence, mental retardation and learning disabilities;
c)Language development, Specific Language Impairment, and Learning Disabilities;
d)Specific learning disabilities:
reading disabilities;
writing disabilities;
maths disabilities;
attentional deficits and hyperactivity.
e)Diagnosis and assessment in educational contexts.
f)Educational perspectives and suggestions for itnervention.
g)The organization of clinical work for LD

Text: for the bibliography see the attached file.

The examination will be in written form and consist of three open questions.