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 8.01-Motoric Nonverbal Learning Disability
Disability Category: Learning Disabilities
Definition
A type of nonverbal learning disability specifically associated with difficulties in psychomotor coordination, e.g., coordination, balance, fine motor writing skills (Nonverbal Learning Disorders Association, 2005)
Explanation
Students with Motoric Non Verbal Learning Disabilities will often exhibit three primary symptoms:
- lack of coordination
- severe balance problems
- difficulties with graphomotor/fine motor skills (Nonverbal Learning Disorders Association, 2005)
These above symptoms lead to other every day struggles for these children, as they often:
- spill things at mealtime because of problems with motor coordination
- have trouble dressing themselves
- struggle with puzzles and other tasks involving spatial relations
- have difficulties tying their shoes
- have difficulties riding a bicycle
- have trouble catching a ball
- write slowly, with handwriting that may be illegible (Wagner, 2003; Nonverbal Learning Disorders Association, 2001).
An important point to recognize is that here may be a recognizable difference between the dominant and non-dominant sides of the body with more noticeable problems on the left side of the body (Thompson, 1997).
It should be noted that any medical problems associated with this child’s physical and motoric abilities 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 physical or motoric impairment (International Dyslexia Association, 2006).
HI 1.02-Pure word deafness
Disability Category: Hearing Impairment
Definition
Pure word deafness is a specific deficit of perception of spoken language while other auditory perception is intact. The individual’ speech is intact but some garbled language may be present at the onset of illness. Writing is normal while reading may be impaired (National Academy of Neuropsychology, 2000). In pure word deafness, comprehension and repetition of speech are impaired, but reading, writing, and spontaneous speech are preserved (Coslett, Brashear & Heilman, 1984).
Explanation
Pure word deafness is a subtype of central deafness. This disorder is defined as disturbed auditory comprehension without difficulties with visual comprehension. Patients characteristically have fluent verbal output, severe disturbance of spoken language comprehension and repetition, and no problems with reading or writing (Hain, 2004).
OHI 5.00-Alpers Disease
Disability Category: Other Health Impaired
Definition
Alpers’ disease is a rare, genetically determined disease of the brain that causes progressive degeneration of grey matter in the cerebrum (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2005c). Alpers Disease is a progressive neurologic disorder that begins during childhood (University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, 2000).
Diagnostic Symptoms
Diagnostic symptoms of Alpers Disease include (Loyola University Health System, 2000):
- Convulsions early in a child’s development
- Developmental delay
- Progressive mental retardation
- Hypotonia (low muscle tone)
- Spasticity (stiffness of the limbs)
- Dementia
- Liver conditions such as jaundice and cirrhosis that can lead to liver failure
Further Key Points
The prognosis for individuals with Alpers’ disease is poor. Those with the disease usually die within their first decade of life. Continuous, unrelenting seizures often lead to death. Liver failure and cardio respiratory failure may also occur. Liver failure and cardio respiratory failure may also occur (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2005c).
Download this Issue
To Download a PDF file version of this Issue of the NASET’sLesser Known Disorders in Special Education Series –CLICK HERE
