Volume 16, Issue 4 (December 2018)                   Iranian Rehabilitation Journal 2018, 16(4): 371-378 | Back to browse issues page


XML Print


Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

Zamani P, Hozeily E, Tahmasebi N, Ahmadi A, Moradi N. The Effect of Elementary School Teachers’ Knowledge of Learning Disabilities on Referring Afflicted Students to Speech Therapy. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal 2018; 16 (4) :371-378
URL: http://irj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-853-en.html
1- Hearing Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
2- Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
3- Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IR Iran.
Abstract:   (5943 Views)
Objectives: Learning disabilities can cause serious communication and socio-emotional disorders in students. Teachers, as specialists who are in direct contact with students on a daily basis, have an important role in identifying and referring students suspected of these disabilities. Therefore, this study investigated the role of primary school teachers’ awareness and attitude about the signs and symptoms of learning disabilities on the referral of students of Ahvaz City, Iran to speech therapy centers. 
Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 165 elementary school teachers in Ahvaz in 2016-2017. The teacher’s awareness questionnaire was used to determine the teachers’ awareness level. A logistic regression test was used to explore the role of teachers’ attributes on the referral of students to speech therapies.
Results: The mean total score of teachers’ awareness about students’ learning disabilities was significantly different in the case and control groups (P<0.05). Teachers’ awareness scores had a direct and significant relationship with working experience (P<0.05) and participation in educational workshops (P<0.05). However, there was no significant relationship between the teachers’ awareness score with age and gender (P>0.05).
Discussion: Teaching experience, educational level, history of participation in educational workshops and the teachers’ awareness of learning disabilities are critical factors in referring students to speech therapy centers. It is recommended that teachers participate in workshops at regular intervals to update their knowledge on this topic.
Full-Text [PDF 542 kb]   (3006 Downloads) |   |   Full-Text (HTML)  (1765 Views)  
Article type: Original Research Articles | Subject: Speech therapy
Received: 2018/05/1 | Accepted: 2018/08/13 | Published: 2018/10/1

References
1. Kavale KA, Forness SR. What definitions of learning disability say and don't say: A critical analysis. Journal of Learning Disabilities. 2000; 33(3):239-56. [DOI:10.1177/002221940003300303] [PMID] [DOI:10.1177/002221940003300303]
2. Kakabaraee K, Arjmandnia AA, Afrooz GA. The study of awareness and capability of primary school teachers in identifying students with learning disability in the province of Kermanshah. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2012; 46:2615-9. [DOI:10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.05.534] [DOI:10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.05.534]
3. Shukla P, Agrawal G. Awareness of learning disabilities among teachers of primary schools. Online Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. 2015; 1(1):33-8.
4. Wekesa WR, Poipoi MW, Wanyama R, Nyakwara BS. Early identification of learning disabilities among standard three pupils of public primary schools in Butere district, Kenya. Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies. 2012; 3(4):695-700.
5. Eslami M, Haghdoost AA, Afsaneh N, Hamideh RS. Prevalence of learning disability in primary school students in Kerman City. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences. 2014; 3(3):534-540.
6. Altarac M, Saroha E. Lifetime prevalence of learning disability among US children. Pediatrics. 2007; 119(Suppl. 1):S77-S83. [DOI:10.1542/peds.2006-2089L] [PMID] [DOI:10.1542/peds.2006-2089L]
7. Lingeswaran A. Assessing knowledge of primary school teachers on specific learning disabilities in two schools in India. Journal of Education and Health Promotion. 2013; 2:30. [DOI:10.4103/2277-9531.115807] [PMID] [PMCID] [DOI:10.4103/2277-9531.115807]
8. Kirk SA, Bateman B. Diagnosis and remediation of learning disabilities. Exceptional Children. 1962; 29(2):73-8. [DOI:10.1177/001440296202900204] [DOI:10.1177/001440296202900204]
9. The American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Philadelphia: The American Psychiatric Association; 2013. [DOI:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596] [DOI:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596]
10. Catts HW. The relationship between speech-language impairments and reading disabilities. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. 1993; 36(5):948-58. [DOI:10.1044/jshr.3605.948] [DOI:10.1044/jshr.3605.948]
11. Specht J. Educating exceptional children: Current issue for educators. Education Canada. 2004; 44(1):4-7.
12. Kataoka M, Van Kraayenoord CE, Elkins J. Principals' and teachers' perceptions of learning disabilities: A study from Nara prefecture, Japan. Learning Disability Quarterly. 2004; 27(3):161-75. [DOI:10.2307/1593666] [DOI:10.2307/1593666]
13. Abdi B, Moosavi SKS, Ghadiri Nejadian F, Jahromi M, Panahi Aboozar S. [Teachers' knowledge on learning disabilities in primary schools (Persian)]. Journal of Exceptional Children. 2010; 9(4):345-56.
14. Moothedath S, Vranda MN. Knowledge of primary school teachers in identifying children with learning disabilities. Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development. 2015; 26(3):68-76. [DOI:10.5463/dcid.v26i3.443] [DOI:10.5463/dcid.v26i3.443]
15. Al Khatib JM. A survey of general education teachers' knowledge of learning disabilities in Jordan. International Journal of Special Education. 2007; 22(1):72-6.
16. Bhavya S, Chinnu CM, Christy EJ,Dayona T, Viji Prasad C. The knowledge and attitude of teachers regarding specific learning disabilities among children: A descriptive approach. International Journal of Recent Scientific Research. 2015; 6(1):2636-41.
17. Kamala R, Ramganesh E. Knowledge of specific learning disabilities among teacher educators in puducherry, :::union::: territory in India. International Review of Social Sciences and Humanities. 2013; 6(1):168-75.

Send email to the article author


Designed & Developed by : Yektaweb