Relative stability of the neuropsychological profiles of non-verbal learning disabilities (NVLD) and basic phonological processing disabilities (BPPD) from middle childhood to early adolescence.

The present study is a longitudinal comparison of relative neuropsychological assets and deficits for young and older children with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NLD) and Basic Phonological Processing Disabilities (BPPD). The sample for the investigation was comprised of clinic-referred children who had been diagnosed with either NLD or BPPD by an experienced clinical neuropsychologist. A total of 18 children, nine in each of the NLD and BPPD groups were selected. The children were between 7 and 8 years of age at first testing, and 9 and 14 years of age at second testing, inclusive. The NLD and BPPD groups were compared across young and older ages on a number of achievement, verbal, visual-spatial, motor/psychomotor, tactile-perceptual, and concept-formation/problem-solving measures. Results of the comparisons confirmed the pattern of relative neuropsychological assets and deficits as predicted by the NLD and BPPD models for both young and older children. An examination of age-related profiles of neuropsychological functioning suggested that the children with BPPD demonstrated age-appropriate development with regard to their neuropsychological deficits, but the children with NLD demonstrated a pattern of worsening with regard to some of their neuropsychological deficits. Specifically, the performance of the children with NLD declined significantly in areas related to Arithmetic and Complex-Tactile abilities. Children in both LD subtypes demonstrated age-appropriate development of the majority of their respective neuropsychological assets. The failure to confirm all of the age-related predictions based upon the NLD and BPPD models, along with the neuropsychological implications of the findings, are discussed.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2003 .K685. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 42-03, page: 1053. Adviser: Byron Rourke. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2003