Specific learning disorders — formative SAQs

SAQ 1 — Domain diagnosis and vision therapy (10 marks)

A 7-year-old boy in Year 2 is “bright but cannot read.” Oral language is good. He avoids reading aloud. Parents ask for a referral for vision therapy after an online search. Hearing has never been formally tested. The teacher reports adequate phonics teaching this year with little progress. ^{[1] [3]}

Questions

1. Define specific learning disorder and name the three DSM-5-style academic domains. (2 marks) ^[3]
2. List four discriminating features that favour reading SLD (dyslexia phenotype) over intellectual developmental disorder. (2 marks) ^[3]
3. What is your immediate medical evaluation plan before or alongside educational testing? (3 marks) ^[1]
4. How do you counsel the family about vision therapy, citing the AAP/Handler position? (3 marks) ^{[1] [2]}

Model answer

1. Definition/domains (2): SLD is persistent difficulty learning/using academic skills despite opportunity, not better explained by intellectual disability or sensory/neurological exclusion alone. Domains: reading, written expression, mathematics. ^[3]

2. Vs IDD (2): relatively preserved general reasoning/adaptive function outside academics; domain-specific pattern; conversational language may be age-appropriate; academic underachievement is unexpected relative to overall ability. ^[3]

3. Medical plan (3): formal hearing assessment; vision/ocular health assessment; neurological/red-flag screen for regression or progressive disease; developmental/ADHD/language history; school work samples and teaching intensity history. ^[1]

4. Vision therapy counselling (3): learning disabilities/dyslexia are language-based; vision problems can interfere with comfort but do not cause dyslexia as claimed by vision-therapy marketing; eye exercises are not recommended as treatment for SLD; comprehensive educational evaluation and structured literacy teaching are required. ^{[1] [2]}