Clinical Psychology, Vol. 1 No. 1-2, 2008.
Professional paper
A case of school failure - neuropsychological evaluation
Snježana Bilać
; Special children's hospital Goljak, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
School failure can be the result of various factors relating to the child, it’s family, their school or society in general. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the possibilities of neuropsychological evaluation in the area of school failure. It presents the work done with a girl, who had learning difficulties from the start of schooling as well as emotional disorders. In her fifth class she was referred by her school for clinical assessment in order to determine appropriate further education. The verbal intellectual abilities of the girl were in the average range, while her non-verbal abilities were deficient, with numerous specific cognitive deficits and specific learning difficulties.
Her behaviour showed symptoms of ADHD syndrome and in her emotional domain there was dominant phobic fear of verbal answering in school. We suggested further education with an adapted schooling programme. The psychologist implemented treatment
based on cognitive behavioural and Gestalt therapy. The girl stopped showing emotional disorders, she successfully completed primary school and continued with her secondary education.
Keywords
school failure; specific learning difficulties; developmental neuropsychological evaluation; psychotherapy
Hrčak ID:
158403
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2008.
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