19-12-2019 | Original Article | Uitgave 1/2020 Open Access
Timing is key to providing modified assessments for students with specific learning difficulties
- Tijdschrift:
- Perspectives on Medical Education > Uitgave 1/2020
Abstract
Introduction
Medical students who are diagnosed with a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) will typically receive a reasonable adjustment within examinations in the form of modified assessment provision (MAP). This study investigated whether the timing of SpLD diagnosis and subsequent implementation of MAP has an impact on performance in applied medical knowledge multiple choice question (MCQ) assessments.
Method
The MCQ performance of 108 students diagnosed with SpLD who received a MAP was monitored and compared with 1960 students who received an unmodified assessment, over 5 years of a medical program. Students who received a SpLD diagnosis in the latter years of the program were identified as not receiving a MAP in assessments prior to diagnosis.
Results
Differences were found between declaration and diagnosis, with 44.4% of students who declared and 48.1% who did not declare subsequently receiving a diagnosis. Students with SpLD who receive a MAP increase their applied medical knowledge assessment performance, although there is a delay of up to a year for this impact to reach significance.
Conclusion
Early diagnosis of SpLD is necessary to ensure the intended benefit is received from MAP.