Differences Between Normal and Learning Disabled Students in Auditory and Visual Discrimination at the First Stage Muscat Schools

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying the auditory and visual discrimination between normal and learning disabled students, at the first stage of basic education in Muscat schools. The sample consisted of two groups; the first formulated from 184 students and the second consisted of 93 students. For the purpose of the study the researcher developed two tools, to measure the auditory and visual discrimination. The validity and reliability of these tools were established. The validity and reliability coefficients indicated that the tools were valid and suitable to measure what they intended to measure. The findings of the study indicated that there were statistically significant differences between normal and learning disabled students in auditory discrimination, and the interaction between the type of students and age, as well as between gender and age. Furthermore, the study showed there were statistically significant differences between normal and learning disabled students in visual discrimination; it also showed that students whose ages were 9 and above had better visual discrimination than those whose ages were less than 9 years. In the light of the above mentioned results, the researcher recommended that further research should be conducted in other areas of auditory and visual perception.