Characteristics of psychological diagnostics of children with sensory impairments

Research works on the specifics of the psychological diagnosis of children with sensory impairments, are rare, there is almost no comprehensive medical-psychological study of the relationship between sensory disturbances and mental state of children. In assessing of the mental status and levels of mental health of children, different methodological approaches are used; difficulties of diagnosis are also caused by the problems of interaction with such children. Tests which are standardized for normal-hearing children are used for psychological diagnosis of children with hearing impairments. The article discusses the fragment of the research devoted to the study of mental health among children with sensory impairments. There were clinically examined 251 students of specialized (correctional) schools 7-18 years with hearing and vision impairments. In children with hearing impairments in the structure of mental disorders dominated by mixed specific developmental disorders, mental retardation and speech disorders, in children with visual impairment - violation of adaptation state and mixed specific developmental disorders. When conducting clinical and psychological study there was identified a number of characteristic which are typical for children of studied category - high prevalence of speech disorders, disorders of psychological development, low communication ability, reduced cognitive activity, limiting the possibility of using of most standard experimental techniques. The high frequency of concomitant neurological and somatic pathology among children, which determines the asthenic manifestations, fatigue, lack of concentration was revealed. The article discusses the results and possibilities of applications of following methods in work with children of studied categories: anxiety scale CMAS, Maria Kovak Depression Scale, a questionnaire - aggressiveness Bass Dark, drawing methods, Luscher test. Upon presentation of the questionnaire (scale) we need to make sure how the child understands the meaning of words or the content of the situation. The general level of social development of children and adolescents, their awareness about social phenomena influences the reliability of answers, apart from their intellectual level. For example, 33% of children with sensorineural hearing loss were not able to answer the questions of anxiety scale for children CMAS, only 45% of children study group were able to fill questionnaire on the identification of aggressiveness Bass - Darky. Drawing tests are effective additional diagnostic techniques which can be used with children with sensory impairments and intellectual disabilities. Thus, the presences of sensory disturbances are often associated with speech and intellect disorders, difficult psychological examination and significantly limit the choice of the methods used in children with developmental disorder.

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