Deafness as Compared to Aphasia and Emotional Disturbance

As society has progressed, it has become increasingly more aware of the handicapped child. However, there has arisen a problem in the differential diagnosis of some of these children. This rests in the fact that those with various auditory disorders, have similar characteristics. As a result some of these children are diagnosed as having a problem they do not have but from appearances this diagnosis seems correct. If a child who is deaf is diagnosed as aphasic, emotionally disturbed or brain damaged, he suffers from misunderstanding and incorrect corrective measures. This can cause problems in the persons later life. Aphasia, deafness and emotional disturbance or psychic deafness are sometimes confused in diagnosis. The following material will give some characteristics of each type of handicapped child and will convey an insight into the problems of differential diagnosis