Date of Award

2000

Degree Name

Psychology

College

College of Liberal Arts

Type of Degree

M.A.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dr. Del Lawhon

Second Advisor

Dr. Ranson

Third Advisor

Dr. Stephen O’Keefe

Fourth Advisor

Leonard J. Deutsch

Abstract

Learning disabilities are fairly prevalent in the population of children today. Consensus in the area of learning disabilities (LD) is difficult to find. Definition, criteria, and detection methods are among the areas of disagreement. Assuming that LD involves central nervous system dysfunction, it follows that neuropsychological tests should be employed in the detection of LD in children. To date, no standard tests, or batteries of tests, are utilized to diagnose LD. This study examined the utility of the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) in discriminating LD children from non-LD children aged 9 to 16 years of age. The results showed that the VMI did not discriminate between the LD and non-LD samples. However, upon further analysis, the VMI did show to discriminate LD from non-LD status in children above 10 years, 9 months of age. The mean standard scores of each group, however, were within one standard deviation of the mean, or normal range. This fact limits its clinical use as a diagnostic tool for LD. It was concluded that the VMI has little or no clinical utility in detecting LD, and it should not be included in a test battery designed to detect LD in children and adolescents of this age group.

Subject(s)

Learning ability – Testing.

Learning disabilities – Diagnosis.

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