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 12.02-Visual Closure Processing Disorder
Disability Category: Learning Disability
Definition
A type of visual processing disorder specifically associated with difficulties in knowing what an object is when only parts of it are visible (Behavioral Neurotherapy Clinic, 2006National Center on Learning Disabilities, 2004).
Explanation
Difficulties in visual closure can be seen in such school activities as when the young child is asked to identify or complete a drawing of a human face (Behavioral Neurotherapy Clinic, 2006). This difficulty can be so extreme that even a single missing facial feature (a nose, eye, mouth) could render the face unrecognizable by the child.
Symptoms of Visual Closure Disorder include difficulties in:
- recognizing a picture of a familiar object from a partial image. Example: A truck without its wheels
- identifying a word with a letter missing
- recognizing a face when one feature (such as the nose) is missing (Terry, 2001)
It should be noted that 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.
SL 6.06-Transcortical Aphasia
Disability Category: Speech and Language Impairment
Definition
A type of aphasia specifically associated with either partial or total loss of the ability to communicate verbally or using written words that does not affect an individual’s ability to repeat words, phrases, and sentences (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2002a). Transcortical aphasia is caused by damage to the language areas of the left hemisphere that are outside the primary language areas (Penn State-Milton Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine, 2005).
Explanation
People with Transcortical Aphasia suffer partial or total loss of the ability to communicate verbally or use written words, but can still repeat words, phrases, or sentences (Penn State-Milton Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine, 2005). Other language functions may also be impaired to varying degrees, depending on the extent and particular location of brain damage.
There are three types of Transcortical Aphasia:
- Transcortical Motor Aphasia
- Transcortical Sensory Aphasia
- Mixed Transcortical Aphasia.
SL 6.06a-Transcortical Motor Aphasia
Transcortical motor aphasia is different than Broca’s aphasia in that repetition ability is intact. Patients who demonstrate transcortical motor aphasia have the same halting, agrammatic speech of Broca’s, but may be echolalic, or able to repeat complex words and phrases (DaVanzo, 2005).
SL 6.06b-Transcortical Sensory Aphasia
This occurs when the speech areas are disconnected from the posterior association cortex. Patients can recognize words and they can talk, but they cannot understand what people are saying to them and have no spontaneous speech of their own (DaVanzo, 2005)
SL 6.06c-Mixed Transcortical Mixed Aphasia
A rare aphasic disorder involves the isolation of both Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas. The patient has a virtual compulsion to repeat utterances to the point of appearing echolalic. Other language abilities, such as comprehension, naming, expression, and reading are impaired. The individual may not utter any language unless spoken to (DaVanzo, 2005)
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
OI 4.03a Claw foot
A type of Contracture Deformity of the toes in which the toe joint nearest the foot is bent upward (from contracture) and the other toe joints bend downward (also from contracture). Claw toes can be something that a child is born with (congenital) or can develop as a consequence of disorders (acquired).
OI 4.03b Claw hand
A type of Contracture Deformity characterized by curved or bent fingers, which makes it appear like the claw of an animal. Claw hand can be something that a child is born with (congenital), or it can develop as a consequence of certain disorders (acquired).
OI 4.03c Dupuytren’s contracture
A type of Contracture Deformity characterized by a painless thickening and contracture of tissue beneath the skin on the palm of the hand and fingers. Progressive contracture may result in deformity and loss of function of the hand (Union Memorial Hospital, 2004).
OI 4.03d Foot drop
A type of Contracture Deformity where the foot points downward.
OI 4.03e Volkmann’s contracture (Ischemic contracture)
A type of Contracture Deformity resulting in the deformity of the hand, fingers, and wrist due to the effects of injury to the muscles of the forearm. Volkmann’s contracture occurs when there is a lack of blood flow (ischemia) to the forearm, usually due to the effects of increased pressure that results from swelling (Union Memorial Hospital, 2004).
OI 4.03f Wrist drop
A type of Contracture Deformity where the wrist cannot be lifted.
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