{"id":43859,"date":"2025-04-23T15:40:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T13:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/?post_type=news&p=43859"},"modified":"2025-04-24T08:01:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T06:01:28","slug":"detecting-learning-disorders-tests-finally-adapted-to-luxembourg-context","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/news\/detecting-learning-disorders-tests-finally-adapted-to-luxembourg-context\/","title":{"rendered":"Detecting learning disorders: tests finally adapted to Luxembourg context\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

In a country where multilingualism is the norm, detecting learning disorders such as dyslexia, dysorthographia and dyscalculia is a real challenge. To address this issue, the Luxembourg Centre for Educational Testing (LUCET) and the Centre for Learning Development have designed standardised tests adapted to the Luxembourg’s multilingual context.<\/strong> Their goal is to provide more accurate diagnoses, avoid language-related misinterpretations and better support students with difficulties.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUntil now, the tests that were used in Luxembourg to assess these disorders came mainly from neighbouring countries, particularly Germany<\/em>,\u201d explains Sonja Ugen, director of the University\u2019s Luxembourg Centre for Educational Testing (LUCET).<\/em> \u201cThis makes it difficult to determine whether the difficulties observed are due to a specific disorder or simply to a misunderstanding of instructions given in a language that the student does not fully understand.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on its experience in school monitoring in Luxembourg, LUCET has long demonstrated the significant impact of language on test results. \u201cThe development of a set of tests adapted to the Luxembourg context was urgently needed, in order to avoid over-diagnosing students \u2013 or conversely, missing real learning disorders \u2013 due to the multilingual complexity of our schools,\u201d continues Sonja Ugen.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For four years, LUCET researchers worked with the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa Competence centre for learning development (CDA) to design two standardised tests specifically for the country\u2019s multilingual context: the LuxLeseTest <\/em>and the LuxMatheTest, <\/em>assessing reading and maths skills respectively. The short instructions of these tools are easy to understand for children who speak either Luxembourgish or another language on a daily basis. \u201cThe LuxMatheTest, for example, avoids comprehension problems by not using complex mathematical statements,\u201d explains Sonja Ugen.<\/em>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the language issue, the researchers also looked at test standardisation, which is essential to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability of diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \u201f<\/span>\n Each test comes with a manual and a protocol booklet that explains exactly how to implement and correct it.<\/em> This prevents the results from being influenced by how they are recorded or from having to repeat assessments to confirm their validity<\/em>.\u201d\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n
\n \n\"Assoc.\n <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Assoc. Prof Sonja UGEN<\/p>\n

Head of LUCET – Associate professor in Educational Testing<\/p>\n

\n \n \n View profile<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/use><\/svg> <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n

At the same time, LUCET has developed FLUX (Fluide Intelligenz Luxembourg<\/em>), an initiative designed to assess children\u2019s cognitive abilities. To reduce the influence of the student\u2019s linguistic profile, this test is based on abstract content and animated visual instructions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With these combined tests, the University of Luxembourg hopes to offer a more accurate diagnosis of learning disabilities, enabling more targeted support for students with difficulties. In addition, these standardised tools will open new paths for research into learning disorders, an area that has lacked reliable data in Luxembourg until now.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n

\n
\n \n

\nRead more…<\/h2>\n\n
    \n
  • \n \n \n \n About LUCET <\/span>\n <\/use><\/svg> <\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":341,"featured_media":43860,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"featured_image_focal_point":[],"show_featured_caption":false,"ulux_newsletter_groups":"","uluxPostTitle":"","uluxPrePostTitle":"","_trash_the_other_posts":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false},"news-category":[12],"news-topic":[19],"organisation":[154],"authorship":[341],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDetecting learning disorders: tests finally adapted to Luxembourg context\u00a0 - University of Luxembourg<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n