Research Project: Special Needs and Learning Disabilities in Children

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This project explores special needs for children with learning disabilities.

RESEARCH PROJECT IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
SETTING
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Abstract
The study effectively encompasses about the necessity of delivering effective special care to the
children. In order to conduct the research, rationale has been put forth that signified the issues
that are associated with the delivery of appropriate care to the disabled children. Along with this,
appropriate research methodology of primary data collection method has been taken into
consideration. Additionally, positivism research philosophy has been taken into consideration in
order to compare the findings of the research with natural phenomenon. Deductive research
approach and descriptive research design has been underpinned. Furthermore, it has also been
considered about the linking of objectives, recommendations and future scope of the research
has also been described vividly.
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Acknowledgment
I would like to express my gratitude to my mentor, Mr. /Ms. _____ for their support and guidance
to complete my research and providing me assistance. I would also like to thank my friends and
family for their moral support without which the project cannot be completed appropriately. The
project enriched my knowledge regarding effectiveness of special needs of children that can
help in future studies.
Date: ________________________
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Table of Contents
LO1................................................................................................................................................6
Chapter 1: Introduction..................................................................................................................6
1.0 Introduction..............................................................................................................................6
1.1 Background of the study..........................................................................................................6
1.2 Rationale (Problem Statement) [P1.1, P1.2]...........................................................................7
1.3 Research Title..........................................................................................................................8
1.4 Research Aim and Objectives [P1.1, M1]................................................................................8
1.5 Research Question..................................................................................................................8
1.6 Summary of the study..............................................................................................................8
Chapter 2: Literature Review [P1.1, 1.3, D1]...............................................................................9
2.0 Introduction..............................................................................................................................9
2.1 Types of special needs............................................................................................................9
2.2 Symptoms shown by special children......................................................................................9
2.3 Reasons to have special needs.............................................................................................10
2.4 Impact of such disabilities on individuals and peers..............................................................10
2.5 Treatment of special child......................................................................................................11
2.6 Theories and models.............................................................................................................11
2.7 Summary of the chapter........................................................................................................13
2.8 Literature Gap........................................................................................................................13
LO2..............................................................................................................................................14
Chapter 3: Research Methodology [P 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, M2]......................................................14
3.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................14
3.1 Research Onion.....................................................................................................................14
3.2 Research Approach...............................................................................................................15
3.3 Research Philosophy.............................................................................................................15
3.4 Research Design [P1.4, P2.2]...............................................................................................16
3.5 Data collection method [P1.4, P2.2]....................................................................................16
3.6 Sampling size and techniques [P1.4, P2.2]...........................................................................16
3.7 Research data analysis.........................................................................................................17
3.8 Reliability and validity............................................................................................................17
3.9 Ethical Consideration [P1.4, P2.2].........................................................................................17
3.10 Research limitations............................................................................................................17
3.11 Timeline...............................................................................................................................18
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Chapter 4: Data Analysis [P 3.1, 3.2, M3]...................................................................................19
4.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................19
4.1 Primary Research..................................................................................................................19
4.2 Results and analysis..............................................................................................................30
4.3 Summary...............................................................................................................................31
LO3..............................................................................................................................................32
Chapter 5: Conclusion [P 3.1, 3.2, M3, D3].................................................................................32
5.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................32
5.1 Conclusion.............................................................................................................................32
5.2 Linking with the objectives.....................................................................................................32
5.3 Recommendations.................................................................................................................33
5.4 Future scope of the study......................................................................................................34
Chapter 6: References................................................................................................................35
Chapter 7: Appendices................................................................................................................38
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LO1
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.0 Introduction
In association to health and social care unit, it is necessary for the care providers to deliver
appropriate care to the services users including children suffering from certain disabilities. As
per statistical tools, it has been observed that in UK, almost 286,000 children suffer from
learning disability. Above 1.2 million children and 15% of students in England has special
children and thus, requires special education needs for helping the children to come out from
their health issues. Almost 10% of children are affected by learning disabilities like dyscalculia,
dyslexia and autism. The study highlights about the background of the research, rationale that
effectively shades light on the issues associated with the conduction of the research. In addition
to this, research title, aims and objectives are also taken into consideration.
1.1 Background of the study
The research is based on imparting special needs to the children who are suffering from certain
issues. It is necessary for to care for the children from the initial stage when they show different
symptoms associated to different diseases. As stated by Collins et al., (2019), such children
must be provided with special care and taken care in a proper way. In UK, it has been found
that 19% of adults also are affected by certain disability and 16% of adults belong to working
group. Dyslexia has been a common disability that has been deciphered within children from
early stage. For instance, 1 out of 10 children are suffering from this disease. However, there
are many children who remain undiagnosed. This affects their ability to study, read and write.
Children affected from dyslexia also affect their peers in several ways (Patrick et al., 2016). This
particular neurological problem can also include forgetting things, losing books or remembering
spoken instructions. Dyslexia can also be hereditary and children suffering from this disease are
found to have low self-esteem and low confidence. Psychologists, teachers of special schools
and child counsellors are also involved in the research in order to contribute towards
understanding the necessity of providing special care to such children (Karazivan et al., 2015).
Apart from dyslexia, other disabilities like dyscalculia and autism are also major issues faced by
the children.
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1.2 Rationale (Problem Statement) [P1.1, P1.2]
It is of sheer significance to provide the children suffering from certain disabilities like dyslexia,
dyscalculia and autism. This can adversely affect the self-esteem of the children and make them
lack behind as compared to other normal children. It has been observed that learning disabilities
caters to involve foundational perceptual and thinking skills; this can affect the normal
proceedings of the life. Along with this, it is also found that there are many children who remain
undiagnosed for their disability. This can hamper their studies as well as their life. In such case,
it is necessary to provide such children with special needs like treatment from psychiatrists or
child counsellors. According to Gottlieb et al., (2016), this can help them to regain their
confidence level and make them realise that they are not inferior to other normal children. It can
also be said that these diseases can be caused due to certain medical conditions like
neurological illness or chronic infections at the initial childhood stage. This can directly hamper
the neurological development of the child and hence, leading to the commencement of above-
mentioned diseases. It is necessary for the family members or the peers to support such
children and make sure that they are provided with appropriate special needs that can help
them to cope up with their negative situations (McCoyd and Kerson, 2016).
It has been observed that the issue is consistent in the present time as well. There are children
who are untreated and are also unaware of the fact that they are suffering from such disabilities
and require special needs from the care providers. There are people who are not able to afford
expensive treatments for their children and thus, this can adversely affect their future. In current
time, it has also been observed that women face issues during their gestation period, from that
time itself, the child can develop learning disability if not taken care properly (Albert, 2017).
Women today are exposed to risks like smoking, or addiction towards alcohol or drugs. Children
from such mothers are also likely to develop learning disability in mathematics or reading.
Medical factors like premature birth, meningitis of offspring, diabetes, malnutrition or poor
prenatal healthcare.
By conducting this research, it has been observed that the most important factor is that
expected mothers are required to develop healthy eating habits that can lessen the probabilities
of such disabilities (Liu et al., 2017). The child must be taken care at his/her initial stages. Any
symptoms identified must be reported and taken action against it. This can help to lessen the
adverse effects of the disability on the child. This can also be helpful for securing the future
aspect for the children by giving them special care.
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1.3 Research Title
The study focuses on effectiveness of the special needs for the children.
1.4 Research Aim and Objectives [P1.1, M1]
The aim of the study is the figure out the significance and effectiveness of delivery of special
care needs to the children.
Objectives:
● To evaluate the types and symptoms of special needs for children
● To analyse the challenges of certain disabilities faced by children and peers
● To figure out the ways of catering special needs and treatments to the suffering children
● To analyse the importance of developing the ways to deliver effective special care needs
to the children in future
1.5 Research Question
● How to evaluate the types and symptoms of special needs for children?
● What are the challenges of certain disabilities faced by children and peers?
● How to figure out the ways of catering special needs and treatments to the suffering
children?
● What are the ways to deliver effective special care needs to the children in future?
1.6 Summary of the study
The study encompassed of background of the research that stated the facts and figures about
the children who are suffering from certain learning disabilities and their requirement for getting
special needs to overcome their situation. In addition to this, it has also been undertaken about
the rationale for the research, through which it has become easier to analyse the issues
associated to the research and its current situation along with future aspects. The aims,
objectives and questions are beneficial for conducting the research on further basis.
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Chapter 2: Literature Review [P1.1, 1.3, D1]
2.0 Introduction
The chapter underpins the types of special needs that are required to be provided to the
children suffering from certain disabilities. The symptoms of special child, reasons for a child to
seek for special care needs are also taken into consideration for further development of the
research. Impact and challenges faced by the children and its effects on the peer groups are
also taken into consideration. The findings of the study are also supported with the help of
certain theories and models along with literature gap.
2.1 Types of special needs
The purpose of delivering special needs vary as per the requirements of the children. Special
needs are of four different types. It includes Physical, Developmental, Behavioural/Emotional
and Sensory Impaired. In order to provide appropriate care to the children who are suffering
from learning disability, Developmental Special Care is provided to them so that the children are
able to deal with Down syndrome, dyslexia, or autism. As analysed by Hebbeler and Spiker
(2016), it is necessary to treat the children humanely and make them aware of their rights. After
witnessing the symptoms of such disabilities, it is the core responsibility of the family members
to seek for professional medical assistance for the child. Regular visits to the child counsellor
might also help the child to prevent from getting worse. As per the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA), children are supported and prepared for their further education and
create opportunities for their employment and facilitate them to lead an independent life. Such
children are also required to be provided with special education status. This can help the
students to feel equal to other students (Baum, 2018). According to Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act, schools are prohibited to discriminate among normal and disabled students
and also provide them proper accommodation services. It is also necessary for the schools to
uphold the standards of achievement for the disabled children.
2.2 Symptoms shown by special children
Children suffering from learning disabilities have certain common symptoms through which it is
easier to identify their disabilities. Special children can also suffer from retarded mental growth
and lack of development. This makes them lack behind other students and thus this also
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hampers the independent living of such children. Special needs can be delivered in different
ways and by applying different techniques (Schulte-Körne, 2016). For instance, children
suffering from dyslexia can have following symptoms. This includes Difficulty in understanding,
Delayed speech, slower reading and writing, poor spellings, improper pronunciation is found in
the children aged 5 to 6 years. The children also face trouble in learning foreign languages and
they give up on longer reading tasks. In order to assist such children, it is the core responsibility
of special school teacher to help the children learn, read and write in a proper way. In the
school, the teachers are responsible for evaluating such symptoms and hence, also inform the
parents about such uncertainties (Roberts, 2017).
2.3 Reasons to have special needs
Special needs can be delivered in different terms and for different purpose. This can be effective
for treating the children with different disabilities like learning disability. For instance, in order to
treat autism, is to adopt certain behavioural treatments and other medical interventions like
giving proper medicines to the children (Siegler, 2016). For example considering dyslexia, it is
necessary for the teachers to understand the necessity of engaging students into different
activities like reading, writing and speaking. Extracurricular activities can also be effective for
treating such children. Most significantly Developmental Special Care is provided to the children
for helping them to develop their condition.
2.4 Impact of such disabilities on individuals and peers
Children suffering from learning disability are found to be isolated and socially excluded. This
can lay an adverse effect of the environment and the culture of the society. This makes the child
feel low and thus, lacks motivation and low self-esteem. As per the socio-metric research, it has
been found that it has brought attention to the peer relationship status and it has been claimed
that children suffering from such learning disabilities are not much accepted by their classmates.
This lays a significant impact on the school life of the child. According to Mackelprang, Salsgiver
and Salsgiver (2016), this can also lead to misbalance of their mental state. It has also been
evidenced that, disabled children must have friends who are suffering from the similar phase.
This can help the child to develop in a social way. This can also reduce their isolation and
socialising skills of the child can also be developed through this. The normal children are
required to be helping the disabled children and increase their self-esteem and instil confidence
within them. It is also necessary for the teachers to pay proper attention to children with
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disability and help them to read and write so that they are able to gradually develop their
condition and thus be able cope with the society. Apart from this, the society where the child
resides also plays a significant role in this sphere. Such children in their society are also left
alone. This makes the disabled child much more isolated and lack of confidence is also found.
2.5 Treatment of special child
There is an intense necessity of providing the children with special care needs and preparing
individualised treatment plan that can provide the children with appropriate care.
Behavioural or Cognitive Therapy
This is a psychosocial intervention that is useful for maintaining mental health. Social exclusion
and isolation from peer group results in mental illness. This can also lead to improper behaviour.
In such cases, it is necessary for the parents to seek for therapists, through which the behaviour
of the children can be improved (Karazivan et al., 2015). It is also necessary to maintain a
proper communication with the child for behavioural development.
Speech Therapy
In speech-language pathology, children with varied delays and disorders are treated. Starting
from mild articulation to other complex disorders like motor speech disorder, autism, down
syndrome or other relative delays are treated.
Curricular Activities
It is necessary to engage the children into extracurricular activities like swimming, art therapy,
music therapy or vision therapy that is effective for coordinate working of all muscles and
develop perception and cognition (Shakespeare, Watson and Alghaib, 2017).
2.6 Theories and models
2.6.1 Medical Model of Disability
As per this respective model, it has been clarified that it is necessary to deliver effective special
care needs to the individuals with learning disability. This model has aroused from biomedical
perception of disability. It emphasises on managing disabilities like dyslexia or dyscalculia.
According to the respective theory, the impairments found in the children are required to be
fixed through medical interventions and medications (Roush, 2017). Medical treatments are also
available for the children with such disabilities in certain cases. The medical model tries to
decipher what is wrong with the child. This can negatively impact on their interdependence and
thus leads to lose of choice and control on one’s own life.
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2.6.2 Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
Piaget’s theory of cognitive development caters to suggest that mental development of a child
can be stimulated through four different stages:
Figure 1: Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
(Source: Demetriou et al., 2016)
Sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years)
In this stage, it is necessary to teach basic actions to them and ensure that their actions are
necessary to comply with the things around them. It is also necessary for them to realise
difference in the actions that are taking place around them.
Preoperational stage (ages 2 to 7)
This stage supports other characteristics and developmental changes where children start to
think symbolically. They also tend to be egocentric and struggle to analyse things that are taking
place around them. This can also help them to develop their language and thinking and develop
concrete ideas (Demetriou et al., 2016).
Concrete operational stage (ages 7 to 11)
Children at this stage starts thinking logically and understand the concept of conservation. They
start to become more organised and widen up their thinking that can be helpful for acquiring
specific knowledge and information. Children also become socially active in this stage.
Formal operational stage (ages 12 and up)
This is the final stage of this respective theory, this inculcates enhancement in logical thinking
and increasing the ability to use deductive reasoning. They are also able to understand abstract
ideas and are capable to see multiple solutions and develop a systematic plan (Barrouillet,
2015)
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