The paper presents data suggesting that differential reinforcement procedures can be used to control multiple maladaptive behaviors of severely multihandicapped persons in group situations. Modifications of traditional differential reinforcement scheduling and interval calulations, are introduced. (Author/CL)

The dual handicaps of blindness and brain damage produce a unique combination of rehabilitation problems. To examine these problems, several illustrative cases are cited. The relationship of the eye to the brain is discussed, along with several neurological syndromes. Suggestions for working with the brain-damaged, blind client are given. (Author)

The article outlines the duties and responsibilities of a peripatologist who was a member of the training staff at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Inc. (NY). (Author)

The purpose of this article is to review the literature on the comorbidity of substance abuse and psychiatric disorder. The paper examines the medical, psychosocial, and vocational rehabilitation concerns associated with substance abuse and psychiatric disorder comorbidity. A greater emphasis is placed on vocational concerns and the role of…

Research on free play among children is reviewed, and the relation of such research to the adaptation and use of play environments for multiply handicapped/mentally retarded (MH/MR) children is considered. Noted among research findings are that the nature and organization of playground equipment has a significant effect on children; that children…

The history of residental programs for the blind is reviewed, and the impact of the deinstitutionalization thrust on those schools is examined. The author asserts that residential schools must re-orient themselves to serving multiply handicapped students. (CL)

The association of hearing loss and retinitis pigmentosa has been generally recognized as the genetic disorder of Usher's syndrome. The article reviews findings of this syndrome and suggests strategies for dealing with the clinical and psychological problems displayed by Usher's syndrome patients. (Author/SW)

This study observed ten students with profound and multiple disabilities, with particular attention paid to social and communicative variables operating in educational settings. Comparisons are made with other published studies of behavior state assessment and socio-communicative processes observed in special education programs. (Contains…

Systematic review of 26 studies on language deficits in children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) found 71 percent of EBD children had clinically significant broad-based language deficits including pragmatic, receptive, and expressive deficits. Longitudinal studies suggested that the rate of comorbidity between language deficits and…

The paper reviews literature which focuses on the causes and characteristics of emotional disturbance among the hearing impaired school age population. Included in the discussion is the impact on the child and family and the degree to which this impact can be a cause of emotional disturbance. (Author)

This paper focuses on definitions, incidence, and characteristics of the multihandicapping condition known as "learning disabled, hearing impaired," in order to provide a means of identifying these children and determining whether or not they require different teaching strategies. (JDD)

This paper summarizes the case histories of four young children with concurrent autistic disorder and Williams syndrome. Williams syndrome comprises a peculiar facial appearance, learning disorder, and often hypercalcemia, mild microcephaly, large blood vessel stenosis, and a specific behavioral phenotype. Literature on Williams syndrome is…

This paper examines studies of speech sound errors using traditional articulation and phonological process descriptions, focusing on the specific types of errors exhibited by young children who stutter. Approaches for treating children who exhibit both stuttering and disordered phonology are discussed, including issues of concurrent versus…

Use of lithium with mentally retarded individuals with psychiatric conditions and/or behavior disturbances is discussed. The paper describes components of an adequate clinical trial and reviews case studies and double-blind cases. The paper concludes that aggression is the best indicator for lithium use, and reviews treatment parameters and…

The paper reviews research on the development of communication in visually and mentally handicapped persons. Communication difficulties are traced from the preverbal stage, through imitation and turn-taking, visual co-orientation and objects, and the effects of visual loss on early development. The added impact on a mentally handicapped person of…