We are having a debate at the school where I teach over the diagnosis of Learning Disabilities. Can a student with a low IQ (ex. 75 SS) be diagnosed with a LD if they have a significantly lower reading SS (ex. 60 SS) and math and general knowledge are in line with the IQ (ex. 80 SS). Where does it say the student must have “average” intelligence to be LD? BYW, I’m in Virginia.
Thanks for your help!
Re: diagnosing LD
According to the federal guidelines- yes. As long as you can demonstrate a processing deficit and a concurrent deficit in one of the achievement areas then they meet that gate for eligibility.
Does this make sense and is it a good descriptor of the child? Probably not. But it is a piece of who they are as a learner- and just like these kiddoes with capacity that falls more in the “average” range, it provides some instructional direction.
Robin
Re: diagnosing LD
OK, I am a bit confused. I thought that part of the definition of LD was that a student had to be of average or above average intelligence. Isn’t an IQ in that range below average?
Re: diagnosing LD
We certainly think of the typical LD student as being of average to above average capacity- however, there is nothing in the law that I am aware of that says that this has to be so. The law, as I understand specifies the presence of a processing deficit and discrepant performance in a basic skill area. There is no reason why this cannot occur in a child with generally low average intelligence- for more reasons than I have time right now to cover- ADD, emotional impact, multiple processing deficits, production issues that interfere with demonstration of intelligence.
Robin
Re: diagnosing LD
In Missouri we determine eligilbity based on the new standards that we have. A student is eligible for LD if the SS on the acievement tests fall 1 and 1/2 standard deviations below the full scale IQ (standard deviation being 15) For example if a student has a FS IQ of 75 the SS would have to fall below 53 below the IQ to be eligible for any SPED services (1 1/2 stadard deviation below or 22 points.) So a child with a low IQ will qualify if the meet the criterion.
Re: diagnosing LD
I teach SLD in Florida, and I too, serve a child who has a low 70’s FS IQ. He has short term to long term processing deficits in addition to dyslexia. His verbal IQ is in the 50’s. I think by FS IQ he might be considered grey area in Florida, but wouldn’t it be a sin to throw him in regular ed without any services or accomodations? He does learn more slowly than many of my other LD students but I think that services definitely help him succeed, and that’s ultimately what our programs are about. HTH,
Heather
Is the students overall IQ 75? Is there a difference between the the VIQ and PIQ? If there is a significant difference between VIQ and PIQ that could be indicative of a LD also. Another thing they look at is is there a standard deviation of 1.5 or greater between the childs ability and his achievement. If I remember correctly 1 standard deviation=15 points. Yet another thing they look at is the sub scale scores; is there a significant difference between them. For subscale scores a difference of greater then 3 is significant. Children with “low” IQ scores can still have and LD if these differences are found.