Learning Disabilities , Developmental Disorders and Mental Illness

It seems that people talking to me harshly and putting me down for
talking about things that goes on in society. I wrote about things
that I have read about. I am even got put down for talking about
Dyspraxic symptoms, and being told that they are garbage. Good Grief!
Dyspraxia is a recognized learning disorder, and it does have
comorbidity with Dyslexia and ADHD/ADD. Well...this is stuff from the
DSM-IV. If you want to talk to people like they are stupid, you better
talk to the psychiatrists!

Here are some interesting things that I read in the DSM-IV-TR

(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

page 69 - 70

Pervasive Developmental Disorders are characterized by severe and
pervasive impairment in several areas of development: reciprocal
social interaction skills, communication skills, or the presence of
stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities. The qualitative
impairments that define these conditions are distinctly deviant
relative to the individual's developmental level or mental age. This
section contains Austistic Disorder, Rett's Disorder, Childhood
Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, and Pervasive
Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. These disorders are
usually evident in the first years of life and are often associated
with some degree of Mental Retardation, which, if present, should be
coded on Axis II. The Pervasive Developmental Disorders are sometimes
observed with a diverse group of other general medical conditions
(e.g., chromosome abnormalities, congenital infections, structural
abnormalities of the central nervous system). If such conditions are
present, they should be noted on Axis III. Although terms like
"psychosis" and "childhood schizophrenia" were once used to refer to
individuals with these conditions, there is considerable evidence to
suggest that the Pervasive Developmental Disorders are distinct from
Schizophrenia (however, an individual with Pervasive Developmental
Disorder may occasionally later develop Schizophrenia).

That paragraph made me very concerned. They admit that people with
pervasive developmental disorders have been referred to as being
psychotic and schizophrenic. They suggest that pervasive developmental
disorder is distinct from schizophrenia, but they say that pervasive
developmental disorder may later develop schizophrenia. How do they
even differentiate a person that has pervasive developmental disorder
from a person who has a schizophrenic disorder? How do they know a
pervasive developmental disordered person develops schizophrenia.
Could they be saying that to cover their own butts?

page 50

Demoralization, low self esteem, and deficits in social skills may be
associated with Learning Disorders. The school drop-out rate for
children and adolescents with Learning Disorders is reported at nearly
40% (or approximately 1.5 times the average). Adults with Learning
Disorders may have significant difficulties in employment or social
adjustment. Many individuals (10% - 25%) with Conduct Disorder,
Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention Deficit
Disorder/Hyperactivity Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, or
Dysthymic Disorder also have Learning Disorders. There is evidence
that developmental delays in language may occur in association with
Learning Disorders(particularly Reading Disorder), although these
delays may be sufficiently severe to warrant the separate diagnosis of
a communication disorder. Learning Disorders may also be associated
with a higher rate of Developmental Coordination Disorder.

There may be underlying abnormalities in cognitive processing (e.g.,
deficits in visual perception, linguistic processes, attention, or
memory, or a combination of these) that often precede or are
associated with Learning Disorders. Standardized tests to measure
these processes are generally less reliable and valid than other
psychoeducational tests. Although genetic predisposition, perinatal
injury, and various neurological or other general medical conditions
may be associated with the development of Learning Disorders, the
presence of such conditions does not invariably predict an eventual
Learning Disorder, and there are many individuals with Learning
Disorders who have no such history. Learning Disorders are, however,
frequently found in association with a variety of general medical
conditions (e.g., lead poisoning, fetal alcohol syndrome, or fragile X
syndrome).

I find those things very interesting. I have a learning disorder, and
I definitely had developmental delays in language and coordination. I
have a lifelong history of low self esteem (a symptom of
depression,avoidant personality disorder)
and demoralization. I definitely had difficulties with employment and
social adjustment. I had depression, and I was diagnosed with a
Depressive Disorder. I definitely have deficits in memory and
linguistic processes. It is sad that psychiatrists didn't even have a
clue about that in my adult years. All they had to do was ask me and
talk to my mother and others that know me. Of course, I was afraid
that they were going to view me as stupid which was always one of my
greatest fears.

page 59

The most common associated feature of Expressive Language Disorder in
younger children is Phonological Disorder. There may also be a
disturbance in fluency and language formulation involving an
abnormally rapid rate and erratic rhythm of speech and disturbances in
language structure ("cluttering"), When Expressive Language Disorder
is acquired, additional speech difficulties are also common and may
include motor articulation problems, phonological errors, slow speech,
syllable repetitions, and monotonous intonation and stress patterns.
Among school-age children, school and learning problems (e.g., writing
to dictation, copying sentences, and spelling) that sometimes meet
criteria for Learning Disorders are often associated with Expressive
Language Disorder. There may also be some mild impairment in receptive
language skills, but when this is significant, a diagnosis of Mixed
Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder should be made. A history of
delay in reaching some motor milestones, Developmental Coordination
Disorder, and Enuresis are not uncommon. Social withdrawal and some
mental disorders such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder are
also commonly associated. Expressive Language Disorder may be
accompanied by EEG abnormalities, abnormal findings on neuroimaging,
dysarthic or apraxic behaviors, or other neurological signs.

One of the main reasons why I was diagnosed with bipolar mania is
because of my rapid rate of speech. The psychiatrists didn't consider
that I was cluttering. I did have 3 years of special education for
speech problems. Rapid speech is a symptom of mania too. You can see
how a person with speech problems can be misdiagnosed with mania. It
makes sense that a lot of people with learning disabilities are
diagnosed with bipolar and even schizophrenia. Learning disability
symptoms that include poor coordination, left-right confusion, and
disorganized speech are listed as signs of schizophrenia.

page 697

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Diagnostic Features of Schizotypal Personality Disorder is a pervasive
pattern of social and interpersonal deficits marked by acute
discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships as well
as by cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of
behavior. This pattern begins by early adulthead and is present in a
variety of contexts.

Individual with Schizotypal Personality Disorder often have ideas of
reference (i.e. incorrect interpretations of casual incidents and
external events as having a particular and unusual meaning
specifically for the person) (Criterion A1). These should be
distinguished from delusions of reference, in which the beliefs are
held with delusional conviction. These individuals may be
superstitious or preoccupied with paranormal phenomena that are
outside the norms of their subculture (Criterion A2). They may feel
that they have special powers to sense events before they happen or to
read others' thoughts. They may believe that they have magical control
over others, which can be implemented directly, (e.g., believing that
their spouse's taking the dog out for a walk is the direct result of
thinking an hour earlier it should be done) or indirectly through
compliance with magical rituals (e.g., walking past a specific object
three times to avoid a certain harmful outcome). Perceptual
alterations may be present (e.g., sensing that another person is
present or hearing a voice murmuring his or her name) (Criterion A3).
Their speech may include unusual or idiosyncratic phrasing and
construction. It is often loose, digressive, or vague, but without
actual derailment or incoherence (Criterion A4). Responses can be
either overly concrete or overly abstract, and words or concepts are
sometimes applied in unusual ways (e.g., the person may state that he
or she was not "talkable at work).

Individuals with this disorder are often suspicious and may have
paranoid ideation (e.g., believing their colleagues at work are intent
on undermining their reputation with the boss) (Criterion A5). They
are usually not able to negotiate the full range of affects and
interpersonal cuing required for successful relationships and thus
often appear to interact with others in an inappropriate, stiff, or
constricted fashion (Criterion A6). These individuals are often
considered to be odd or eccentric because of unusual mannerisms, an
often unkempt manner of dress that does not quite "fit together," and
inattention to the usual social conversations (e.g., the person may
avoid eye contact, wear clothes that are ink stained and ill-fitting,
and be unable to join in the give-and-take banter of co-coworkers)
(Criterion A7)

Individuals with Schizotypal Personality Disorder experience
interpersonal relatedness as problematic and are uncomfortable
relating to other people. Although they may express unhappiness about
their lack of relationships, their behavior suggests a decreased
desire for intimate contacts. As a result, they usually have no or few
close friends or confidants other than a first-degree relative
(Criterion A8). They are anxious in social situations, particularly
those involving unfamiliar people. (Criterion A9). They will interact
with other people when they have to, but prefer to keep to themselves
because they feel that they are different and just do not "fit in."
Their social anxiety does not easily abate, even when they spend more
time in the setting or become more familiar with the other people,
because their anxiety tends to be associated with suspiciousness
regarding others' motivations. For example, when attending a dinner
party, the individual with Schizotypal Personality Disorder will not
become more relaxed as time goes on, but rather may become increasinly
tense and suspicious.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder should not be diagnosed if the
pattern of behavior occurs exclusively during the course of
Schizophrenia, a Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features, another
Psychotic Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Criterion
B).

Associated Features with Schizotypal Personality Disorder often seek
treatment for the associated symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other
dysphoric affects rather than for the personality disorder per se.
Particularly in response to stress, individuals with this disorder may
experience transient psychotic episodes (lasting minutes to hours),
although they usually are insufficient in duration to warrant an
additional diagnosis such as Brief Psychotic Disorder or
Schizophreniform Disorder. In some cases, clinically significant
psychotic symptoms may develop that meet criteria for Brief Psychotic
Disorder, Schizophreniform Disorder, Delusional Disorder, or
Schizophrenia. Over half may have a history of at least one Major
Depressive Disorder when admitted to a clinical setting. There is
considerable co-occurrence with Schizoid, Paranoid, Avoidant, and
Borderline Personality Disorders.

Specific Culture, Age, and Gender Features

Cognitive and perceptual distortions must be evaluated in the context
of the individual's cultural milieu. Pervasive culturally determined
characteristics, particularly those regarding religious beliefs and
rituals, can appear to be schizotypal to uninformed outsider (e.g.,
voodoo, speaking in tongues, life beyond death, shamanism, mind
reading, sixth sense, evil eye, and magical beliefs related to health
and illness).

Schizotypal Personality Disorder may be first apparent in childhood
and adolescence with solitariness, poor peer relationships, social
anxiety, underachievement in school, hypersensitivity, peculiar
thoughts and language, and bizarre fantasies. These children may
appear "odd" or "eccentric" and attract teasing. Schizotypal
Personality Disorder may be slightly more common in males.

I could easily fit the criteria for Schizotypal Personality Disorder.
I am hypersensitive, had poor peer relationships, social anxiety, and
I had peculiar language(have a very soft voice with a high pitch...a
lot of people thought I sound feminine or gay). I had a history of
speech problems. I believe in and do Astrology and Numerology since I
was 28 years old. I even believe in the valid use of Tarot and other
metaphysical tools. As a kid and adolescent and even as an adult, I
appeared odd to others and attracted teasing because I preferred to
wear my long hair longer, I didn't act "Black", and I talked like I
was "White"(that's what my Black peers told me), and had my hair
straightened. My being a mulatto was a factor. My lack of coordination
while playing basketball and other sports made me look weird, but I
also seemed weird to others when they saw me run - I ran very fast but
didn't look like I was running. My track coach told my peers that I
don't get tired. They responded that I must not be human. As a kid, I
appeared odd to others because I was very interested in Mythology.
People thought I was weird because I didn't care about sex. I was far
more interested in romance. I seemed odd to my peers because I opened
doors for the opposite sex in junior high school. I didn't believe in
having sex before marriage, but I gave up at 22 years due to peer
pressure in the Navy. Having morals made me look odd to my peers. I
didn't use foul language until I got into high school, and I still
don't feel like using the F'word to refer to sex. Women talking dirty
turns me off. You can easily see how I could fit the criteria for
Schizotypal Personality Disorder. I am quite shy too, and that can be
labeled as social anxiety. However, I am not shy at all when it comes
to dancing in front of a large crowd people...especially when I am the
only one dancing on the dance floor....I love the attention that I get
from my dancing.

I saw something interesting that shrinks should have taken into
consideration. I am even going to point it out to them when I see them
at my next visit! I am even going to ask them how do they
differentiate Schizotypal Personality Disorder from Schizophrenia,
Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, Expressive Disorder,and Mixed
Expressive Disorder. I will definitely explain to them how Dyslexics,
Dyspraxics,and other related disorders can be mistaken for Schizotypal
Personality Disorder and even Bipolar and Schizophrenia. I can easily
point out that a lot of Bipolar children have learning disabilities.
If my future children have Dyslexic syndrome like me, I will pray to
God that they don't end up being diagnosed with ADHD and/or mental
illnesses and forced to take medication. There is a strong possibility
that I could end up with Dyslexic children because I seem to be very
drawn to Dyslexic women!

page 700

There may be a great difficulty differentiating children with
Schizotypal Personality Disorder from the heterogenous group of
solitary, odd children whose behavior is characterized by marked
isolation, eccentricity, or pecularities of language and whose
diagnoses would probably include milder forms of Autistic Disorder,
Asperger's Disorder, and Expressive, and Mixed Receptive-Expressive
Language Disorders. Communications Disorders may be differentiated by
the primary and severity of the disorder in language accompanied by
compensatory efforts by the child to communicate by other means (e.g.,
gestures) and by the characteristic features of impaired language
disorder found in a specialized language assessment. Milder forms of
Autistic Disorder and Asperger's Disorder are differentiated by the
even greater lack of social awareness and emotional reciprocity and
stereotyped behaviors and interests.

https://groups.google.com/g/alt.support.dyslexia/c/Y6JQiOpwt5U