Response Letter to the Article: “Prevalence of Specific Learning Disabilities Among Primary School Children in a South Indian City”

Abstract

Sir,We read with interest the original article by Mogasale et al. on“Prevalence of Specific Learning Disabilities among PrimarySchool Children in a South Indian City” [1]. We acknowledgethat the authors have addressed an important issue. Howeverwe have four objections about the methodology employed bythe authors to estimate the prevalence of specific learningdisabilities (SpLDs) in their study. Our objections are as under:Firstly, during screening levels 2 and 3, the authors haveexcluded all children with impaired vision and impairedhearing. Only children having ≥40 % non-correctable visualor auditory disability should have been excluded [2]. It iswell known that a child with SpLDs can have impairedvision and/or impaired hearing as a co-morbid condition.Secondly, during screening level 5, children’s intellec-tual functioning was determined using the Seguin FormBoard test. This is a simple screening test wherein thechild has to put ten differently shaped wooden blocksinto a large form board with recesses corresponding tothese shapes in a specified time limit. It is used to assessvisual discrimination and matching and eye-hand coordi-nation and is an inappropriate test for this study. In ouropinion the authors should have employed the standardintelligence test viz., Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Chil-dren test (Indian adaptation) to determine that the child’sintellectual functioning was normal [2].Thirdly, during screening level 6, the educational testingof the children was done by a Pediatric PostgraduateStudent. It is mandatory that a qualified Special Educator(M.Ed. in Special Education) does the educational testingfor diagnosing SpLDs [2,3].Lastly, there is no mention of any attempt done to screenfor or diagnose attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) in the study. Many children with ADHD developpoor school performance due to their hyperactivity, impul-siveness and/or inattention. It is well known that up to 20 %of children with ADHD have co-morbid SpLDs [4].To conclude, we do not agree with the results of the studyand the authors’ naive claim that SpLDs can be diagnosedwithout using a standard psychological test or withoutemploying the services of a Special Educator.