Dr. Ahmad Al Zoubi participates in the 4th Learning Disabilities Conference in Sharjah

Dr. Ahmad Al Zoubi from the Department of Psychology at Ajman University participated in the "Learning Disabilities Conference: Shared Challenges, Proposed Solutions," organized by the Sharjah Center for Learning Disabilities under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi. The conference was held at the Sharjah Academy for Education on the 12th and 13th of October 2024. Dr. Ahmad Al Zoubi presented a scientific paper on the first day of the conference titled "Challenges and Criteria for Diagnosing Learning Disabilities: Between Traditional and Modern Models." The paper included an analysis and discussion of several important subtopics, such as the considerations to be taken into account before and during diagnosis, traditional criteria, modern criteria and models, and a comparison between some traditional and modern criteria and models, such as a comparison between the DSM-5 guide and the exclusion criterion, and a comparison between the discrepancy model and the Response to Intervention (RTI) model.

A model for the future of learning disabilities diagnosis was proposed, aiming to build an integrated diagnostic model that combines technology and neuroscience with evidence-based educational interventions. Finally, the paper presented a set of recommendations based on the previous analyses, the most prominent of which was enhancing the use of technology in diagnosis through investing in technology-based diagnostic tools, such as neurological analyses and artificial intelligence, to improve the accuracy of assessments. Continuous training for specialists and teachers on the latest diagnostic models and interventions, including RTI and evidence-based learning methods, and adapting assessment tools to be culturally sensitive and aligned with the Emirati environment were also recommended