TOI : Now, tests for learning disability in Indian languages : Sept 24, 2007
Now, tests for learning disability in Indian languages
Anahita Mukherji | TNN
Mumbai: In a new milestone for the Learning Disability (LD) movement in
India, two Mumbai-based college teachers have designed standardised tests in
Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati to detect LD.
While the city’s English-speaking population has woken up to LD and
administers diagnostic tests to schoolchildren, across the country children
with LD continue to fail exams and often drop out of school because their
disability has been going undetected. There have been no standardised tests
in Indian languages and in their absence only crude assessments have been
used.
LD is not indicative of low intelligence, but refers to a group of
disorders that affect academic and functional skills, like the ability to
speak, listen, read, write, spell, reason and organise information. Some of
the disorders are dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia. LD tests include
visual and auditory cues
Mumbai: Two teachers from SNDT University’s Centre for Special
Education-professor Dharmishta Mehta and lecturer Apoorva Panshikar-have
designed tests to detect Learning Disability in Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati
in a project funded by the National Association of Adoptive Families.
“After reading a TOI article in 2004 on the lack of LD tests in Indian
languages, we decided to work on developing these tests. In June 2005, we
commissioned Mehta and Panshikar to work on the job,” said Gaurang Mehta,
NAAF president.
It took the duo almost two years to develop and standardise the tests, a
task completed in April this year. The tests, which will soon be published,
were standardised with the help of 1,123 Class IV and V students from
municipal and private schools across Mumbai. The tests include auditory as
well as visual components. For the auditory tests, a child is asked to
identify sounds with his eyes shut. He must list them both in sequence and
at random. Visual tests are held after showing illustrated cards.
The language tests involve reading passages as well as listening to
passages and answering questions based on the text. Grammar and syntax are
also tested. Children are given words and asked to make sentences, and are
also asked to describe a picture. “We owe a lot to all the children who took
the test twice to help us standardise them,” said Panshikar. “Initially, it
was tough to develop the test as the kids were not used to the method. They
were used to questions and answers lifted directly from the text.”
“LD tests in Indian languages are the need of the hour. This is an
excellent attempt,” said Dr Madhuri Kulkarni, dean, Sion Hospital.
Psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty said these tests are a historic step
towards delivering justice to students with LD and creating a level playing
field. “In many Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati schools, LD is unheard of and
children suffer because they are not detected.”
Workshops will be conducted on four consecutive Saturdays, starting
September 29, for those who have done an MEd/BEd in special education or an
MA in counselling psychology.