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Today, I welcome back pediatric neuropsychologist Dr. Robin Peterson to explore why our field continues to struggle with defining and diagnosing learning disorders. We examine the limitations of traditional diagnostic frameworks, such as the IQ-achievement discrepancy model and pattern of strengths and weaknesses (PSW) approaches, while discussing why a conceptual shift toward developmental learning disabilities may better serve children. Robin breaks down the high comorbidity between reading disorders and ADHD, addresses the clinical nuances of identifying learning disorders in high-IQ individuals, and candidly details the current measurement challenges surrounding complex written expression. Our conversation offers actionable guidance for clinicians seeking to balance rigorous empirical evidence with meaningful patient advocacy.
Main Topics
- 05:22: Why the field continues to struggle with defining and diagnosing learning disorders
- 13:24: Questioning the specificity of learning disabilities and the limits of traditional models
- 18:10: Navigating the high comorbidity between dyslexia and ADHD in clinical practice
- 23:56: Diagnosing broad learning difficulties versus isolated academic skill deficits
- 39:01: Evaluating the validity of Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses (PSW) and Response to Intervention (RTI)
- 49:58: Identifying learning disorders in high-IQ populations and defining clinical impairment
- 56:46: Deconstructing writing disorders, basic mechanics versus complex written expression
Cool Things Mentioned
- Craft: the premier membership community for testing psychologists
- Crafted Practice: the only in-person business retreat for testing psychologists
- Reverb: the premier AI-powered report-writing platform for testing psychologists
- Guilford Press: www.guilford.com
- Children’s Hospital Colorado: www.childrenscolorado.org
- International Dyslexia Association: www.dyslexiaida.org
- American Psychiatric Association DSM-5-TR: www.psychiatry.org
- U.S. Department of Education IDEA Information: www.sites.ed.gov/idea
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About Dr. Robin Peterson
Robin Peterson is a board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado and an associate professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She has clinical and research interests in neurodevelopmental disorders and acquired brain injuries. She has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and is co-author of the books Diagnosing Learning Disorders: From Science to Practice and Pediatric Neuropsychology (3rd edition): Research, Theory, and Practice from Guilford Press. She is active in teaching and training graduate students, interns, and postdoctoral fellows. Prior to becoming a neuropsychologist, she taught kindergarten and first grade.
Get in touch:
About Dr. Jeremy Sharp
I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents.
As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids.
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