Lesser Known Disorders
Each issue of this series contains at least three lesser known disorders. Some of these disorders may contain subtypes which will also be presented. You will also notice that each disorder has a code. These codes represent the coding system for all disabilities and disorders listed in the Educator’s Diagnostic Manual(EDM) Wiley Publications.
Disorders in this issue:
LD 4.04-Dyseidetic Dyslexia (Visual Dyslexia, Dyseidesia or Surface Dyslexia)
Disability Category – Specific Learning Disability
Definition
A type of dyslexia specifically associated with difficulties in the identification of patterns of letters when grouped together (Dyslexia Institute of America, 2006; Spafford & Grosser, 2005) It is a deficit in the ability to perceive whole words as visual forms, and to make the connection with auditory forms (e.g., the student reads “ball” for “bell”; writes “enuf” for “enough”; spells bisnis for business.
Explanation
Students with the Dyseidetic Dyslexia are often able to sound out individual letters phonetically with limited/no difficulties. However, these students have trouble identifying patterns of letters when they are grouped together. As a result, their spelling tends to be phonetic even when incorrect (“laf” for “laugh”).
Students with the Dyseidetic Dyslexia will often have problems with memory of letters and word shapes. As such, development of sight vocabulary is often problematic. Other signs and symptoms of Dyseidetic Dyslexia include:
- difficulties in visualizing letters and words. Produces spelling errors in simple frequently encountered words
- confusion with letters that differ in terms of spatial orientation (including shape) e.g. b d p q s z
- reversal of words e.g. saw for was
- sounding out simple words, is unable to perceive the gestalt configurations of whole words
- sounding out every word as if newly encountered, and thus cannot recognize words quickly when flashed
- limited sight word recognition vocabulary omits letters from words, omits words from reading and frequently loses his place when reading
- a tendency to spell phonetically but inaccurately
- difficulties in spelling irregular words that cannot be sounded out as he has difficulty with the perception and recall of word shapes (Beacon Literacy, 2005).
It should be noted that any medical problems associated with this child’s vision have been ruled out as a primary cause of the child’s difficulties. The difficulties are in the internal processing of information, not due to a visual impairment.
OHI 21.01 Cleft Lip
Disability Category-Other Health Impaired
Definition
Cleft lip and palate are congenital (present from before birth) abnormalities that affect the upper lip and the hard and soft palate of the mouth. Severity of the abnormalities may range from a small notch in the lip to a complete fissure (groove) extending into the roof of the mouth and nose. These features may occur separately or together U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2004a).
Explanation
The symptoms of Cleft lip include:
- Separation of the lip alone
- Separation of the palate
- Separation of the lip and palate
- Varying amounts of nasal distortion
- Recurrent ear infections
- Failure to gain weight
- Nasal regurgitations during bottle feeding
- Growth retardation
- Misaligned teeth
- Poor speech
- Feeding problems (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2004a).
OHI 22.01a Bilateral cleft lip
When a cleft lip occurs on both sides it is referred to as a bilateral cleft lip.
OHI 22.01b Unilateral cleft lip
When a cleft lip occurs on only one side it is referred to as a unilateral cleft lip.
OI 4.03 Contracture Deformity
Disability Category – Orthopedic Impairment
Definition
A contracture is a permanent tightening of muscle, tendons, ligaments, or skin that prevents normal movement of the associated body part and that can cause permanent deformity (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2004e).
Explanation
Contracture deformity develops when the normally elastic connective tissues are replaced by inelastic fibrous tissue. This makes the affected area resistant to stretching and prevents normal movement. Contractures occur primarily in the skin, underlying tissues, muscle, tendons and joint areas (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2005).
The most common causes are scarring and lack of use (due to immobilization or inactivity).
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