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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10791/224

Title: Wistful determination: Adults’ perceptions of their learning disability diagnoses
Authors: Rinn, Avril
Supervisor(s): Jerry, Paul (Faculty of Health Disciplines, Master of Counselling Program)
Examining Committee: Chang, Jeff ((Faculty of Health Disciplines, Master of Counselling Pogram)
Chmiliar, Linda (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Centre for Social Sciences)
Degree: Master of Counselling
Department: Faculty of Health Disciplines
Keywords: heuristic inquiry
learning disability
lived experience
phenomenology
Issue Date: 4-Apr-2017
Abstract: It was once supposed that children “grew out of” learning disabilities (LDs), but it is now known that these are lifelong conditions that can negatively affect many aspects of a person’s life. Although the value of receiving a diagnosis is frequently cited as an important step in the process of ameliorating the condition, there is little qualitative research into the experience of being diagnosed in adulthood. This investigation examined the lived experience of receiving an LD diagnosis as an adult with the purpose of developing a deeper understanding of how the process affected subjects. Phenomenological heuristic inquiry was used and data was obtained by interviewing four adults who self-reported as having been diagnosed with LDs. Common themes that emerged included feelings of anger, grief, relief, regret, hope and resilience. All agreed that receiving a formal diagnosis was important to them.
Graduation Date: Apr-2017
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10791/224
Appears in Collections:Theses & Dissertations

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