'Dyslexic kids may have other problems'

Delivering the 13th Michael Mathias Memorial Lecture and Convocation for 2008-09 organised by Karnataka Parents’ Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens (KPAMRC), he said in India, developmental disorders based on genetic problem don’t play the key role to understand mentally challenged persons. “Too much focus is given on genetics and neurological conditions by developed countries. However, if we focus only on genetics, the Government will not improve the prenatal care, which is poor in our country,” Dr M V Ashok elaborated.

He said that his college was developing an assessment questionnaire in Kannada, which can be used by people who need not have high levels of qualifications and is cost effective. “Adaptive disorders need not be identified only by experts as they are few in numbers and we are losing time. In fact, there is a feeling that development disorders are delays in learning and not dysfunctions, which leads to missing the opportunity to intervene early,” he said.

BEL Chairman and MD Ashwani Kumar Datt BEL handed over diploma certificates to 60 trainees from three sections -Learning disability, Mental Retardation and Autism.