Opinions and recommendations of child and adolescent psychiatrists on the diagnosis of individuals with specific learning disabilities

Child and adolescent psychiatrists are primarily responsible for the diagnosis of individuals at risk for SLD; early and accurate diagnosis of SLD ensures that diagnosed individuals benefit from early intervention. This study employed a phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods, to reveal the views of child and adolescent psychiatrists regarding the diagnostic processes of individuals with SLD. Within the scope of the study, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 child and adolescent psychiatrists involved in the diagnostic process of individuals at risk for SLD. The findings revealed that individuals at risk for SLD are most often referred to hospitals by their teachers; in addition, families, teachers working in special education centers the child attends, and institutional staff may also refer the child. However, lack of knowledge among families and teachers, along with misguidance by institutional staff, complicates the diagnostic process. To facilitate this process, it is recommended that screening be conducted at the school level. Families stated that they had difficulty getting appointments with child and adolescent psychiatrists and that the examination and evaluation times were short when they did. It was emphasized that SLD is often accompanied by ADHD or that ADHD can mask the presence of SLD; therefore, the comorbid features and differential diagnosis processes must be carried out meticulously. Child and adolescent psychiatrists stated that formal assessment tools are inadequate in diagnosing SLD and that they generally make decisions based on clinical observation, with assessment tools playing a supportive role in their decision-making. Additionally, they reported that the lack of collaboration among schools, RAM, and hospitals complicates the diagnostic process.