Cognitive Disorders
Essay Preview: Cognitive Disorders
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Childhood Cognitive Disorders
Mental Retardation
Learning Disorders
Communication Disorders
Mental Retardation
REMINDER: Code MR on Axis II
Diagnostic Criteria for MR
impaired general intellectual functioning
impaired adaptive functioning
onset prior to age 18
Intellectual Functioning
approximately males
Course
life long (although adaptive functioning may improve)
shortened life span in profound MR
Etiology
2/3 known
Genetics
Prenatal
Perinatal
Acquired Medical Condition
Sociocultural Factors?
Treatment
family education
behavioral therapy
pharmacological
Learning Disorders
Reading Disorder
Mathematics Disorder
Disorder of Written Expression
Learning Disorder, NOS
Diagnostic Criteria
achievement below expected:
based on age and education AND
based on IQ
**2 SD discrepancy between IQ and achievement
A learning disorder is NOT diagnosed just because an academic score is low. The academic score must be lower than expected given the persons intelligence
Associated Features of LD
low self-esteem
school drop outs
ADHD
conduct disturbance
Epidemiology
2-10%
> males
Etiology
subtle disturbance in brain structure or function, which is either inherited or acquired in-utero
neural disturbance results in difficulty integrating information from different brain regions
Onset & Course
typically diagnosed in 1st-2nd grade
usually life-long (sometimes abilities “catch up”, which is explained by a “maturational lag”)
Treatment
Psychotherapy
for self-esteem, conduct problems
parental