This is why we put books by Harry Lorayne in our bookstore. Communications Problems in Severe and Profound Disabilities Shifting again For children with severe and profound disabilities, their true primary disability often involves communication. If the child can't communicate, the child appears to be retarded. If the child appears to be retarded, the child s teachers will not have high expectations. Years of low expectations take their toll.
Test scores go down.
Finally, the child tests out as retarded. The child s brain was not used - abilities were untapped. Helen Keller learned to communicate because she had intensive remediation from Annie Sullivan. But he always tested below 70 on IQ tests so the school wouldn t change his placement. We got new evaluations by an experienced psychologist who was aware of the communications problems.