Neuropsychological symptoms in the learning disabled child : a symptomology inventory

• Main Author: West, Penny L.
• Other Authors: Wenck, L. Stanley
• Format: Others
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Learning disabled children.; Symptoms.; Neuropsychological tests.; Neuropsychological Symptom Inventory.
• Online Access: http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/181864; http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/720145

A predominance of symptomology related to neurological dysfunction has been reported for at least some learning disabled (LD) students. This investigation examined the self-reported neuropsychological symptoms of LD and normal students in grades 3 through 12. Determination of group membership based on the childrens' responses to items on the Neuropsychological Symptom Inventory (NSI) was made for all subjects in the study.A discriminant analysis was conducted in order to determine the degree of group separation based on the item responses and which reported symptoms add significantly to that separation. Out of 40 possible items, 19 added to the discriminant function. Prediction of group membership was accomplished with a high degree of accuracy. Nearly 80% of the total population examined were correctly classified according to actual group membership. Of the LD population, 32% were identified as normal but only 16% of the normal population were misdiagnosed as LD. Additionally, nine individual symptoms were identified as reported by a greater percentage of LD students than normals.The results of this investigation suggest that the NSI as a screening instrument may be valuable for some populations. The 80% accuracy rate with the low number of false-positives (16%) is extremely encouraging. Additional research with the NSI to validate the presence of the symptomology reported would add to the already existing data related to the neuropsychological implications related to learning disabilities. === Department of Educational Psychology