73321 - PROCESSI COGNITIVI DISFUNZIONALI

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the students - know the main paradigms in psychology related to learning and memory processes, and to their deficits. They are able to design educational and teaching interventions related to learning disabilities - they are able to evaluate projects of rehabilitation intervention related to cognitive disabilities and in particular to learning disabilities -they are able to use analysis and comparison tools to autonomously deepen their knowledge related to the difficulties induced by deficits of cognitive function.

Course contents

Module II (which will be the first part of the course) presents a comprehensive introduction to the main learning disorders and diagnostic manuals useful for their assessment, as well as the legislation referring to the Italian context, through a language appropriate to the discipline. Specifically, the module begins by presenting law 170/2010, the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5 and ICD-11, and the new Guidelines for the diagnosis and evaluation of learning disorders. Subsequently, the concepts related to neuroconstructivism are presented, with reference to the constructs of interactive specialization, multifactoriality and dimensional comorbidity thanks to the contribution of neuroscience and analysis of various profiles for diagnostics and clinical practice. After introducing the study of learning disabilities and the biological bases of dyslexia and dyscalculia, the module presents developmental dyslexia, calculation difficulties and disorders, dysgraphia, dysorthographia, difficulty in written expression, text comprehension disorder, disorder in mathematical reasoning and problem solving, specific language disorders, difficulty in learning a foreign language with the case of bilingual students, and the disorder of the development of visuospatial skills.

In Module I (in the second part of the course), non-specific learning disorders will be presented: borderline intellectual functioning, intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders. The topics will be integrated with the treatment of issues related to the assessment of cognitive abilities, in particular theories and tests of intelligence, emotional-motivational aspects related to the management of learning difficulties, and the management of learning difficulties within clinical services and school institutions.

For the presentation of the topics of both modules, it is possible to present and describe the main scientific studies on the topic, as well as describe the neural correlates corresponding to learning disorders. The contents of the course remain valid for students who attended in class and for those who did not attend.

Readings/Bibliography

Cornoldi, C. (ed.). I disturbi dell’apprendimento (Second edition 2023). Bologna: Il Mulino. ISBN: 978-88-15-38393-8.

To be studied ENTIRELY, in particular:

Module II: Chapters I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX

Module I: Chapters X, XI, XII and XIII.

Vio, C. e Lo Presti G. Diagnosi dei disturbi evolutivi, aggiornato al DSM-5. Erickson. Capitolo VI: Disturbi dello spettro autistico.

Strepparava M.G. Iacchia E. Psicopatologia cognitiva dello Sviluppo, Cortina ed. 2012 Capitolo 16: I disturbi dello spettro autistico

 

Exam material and bibliography are the same regardless of attendance in class.

Teaching methods

48-hour lectures: the first 30 hours for module II and the following 18 hours for Module I (2 hours for each lesson). During the lessons, the teacher may use ppt slides, short videos, practical exercises or scientific articles.

Assessment methods

The assessment of the knowledge acquired is carried out through an oral exam relating to the entire integrated course. For each question, the correctness of the answer, the expository ability, the quality of the organization of the discourse, the use of appropriate and specialized vocabulary, the ability to create critical connections between the various topics of the course are assessed. The learning assessment method remains valid for students who attended lessons in class and those who did not attend. The exam is passed with at least a score of 18/30. During the entire duration of the test, students have the right to withdraw from the exam. During the test, it is not permitted to use smartphones, PCs, tablets, dictionaries, books, teaching materials or notes.

Teaching tools

The Consensus Conference 2010 document is available at the following link:

https://www.aiditalia.org/storage/files/dislessia-che-fare/Cc_Disturbi_Apprendimento.pdf

The  "linee guida 2022" document is available at the following link:

https://www.iss.it/documents/20126/8331678/LG-389-AIP_DSA

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Valsecchi

See the website of Marco Fabbri