Psychosocial Dimensions of Learning Disability Subtypes: Neuropsychological Studies in the Windsor Laboratory

Abstract

Two subtypes of learning disabilities (LD) are presented to illustrate the following conclusions relating to the psychosocial functioning of children with LD. Social skill deficits can be caused by the set of assets and deficits that constitutes one of these subtypes, namely nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD). There has been no systematic demonstration that social skill deficits are caused by the sets of assets and deficits that define other subtypes of learning disabilities. Social deficits, reading deficits, writing deficits, and the like do not have a direct basis in central nervous system dysfunction; rather, these are the dependent variables that are thought to arise from basic neuropsychological deficits, which, in turn result in the specific manifestations of different subtypes of learning disabilities. There are important and predictable developmental changes in the academic, psychosocial and vocational manifestations of different subtypes of learning disabilities. These need to be considered within the context of the developmental demands that the person with learning disabilities in a particular socio-historical context must face.

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Notes on contributors

Byron P. Rourke

Byron P. Rourke, PhD, is Professor of Psychology and University Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Windsor. His principal fields of interest are developmental neuropsychology and child clinical neuropsychology. Currently, his research and theory development is focusing on the psychosocial dimensions of nonverbal learning disabilities in children and adolescents.

Darren R. Fuerst

Darren R. Fuerst, PhD, received his doctorate from the University of Windsor in 1991. At present, he is working as a neuropsychologist at Harper Hospital, Detroit, Michigan. His research interests include the development of reliable and valid taxonomies of psychosocial subtypes of children with various subtypes of learning disabilities and other conditions.