The authors examine existing procedures and instruments used to assess the motor and perceptual/motor skills of severely/multiply handicapped infants and young children. Following an introductory section is a discussion of the rationale for the sequencing of assessment items and the limitations of the instruments for yielding specific quantitative…

Several decades of scientific inquiry on the effect of malnutrition on brain function in early life are summarized, and the findings are related to more current trends in child eating patterns and the use of special dietary regimes for children with learning disabilities. (SW)

Guidelines for competitive physical education and recreational therapy programs for multihandicapped children are discussed. Program developers should consider psychological factors, such as conceptualization of competition, anxiety management, and students' motivation and sense of locus of control. Teachers and parents should be trained to act…

The article reviews research and its clinical implications concerning children with speech, language, and communication disorders who also have or are at risk for developing emotional and behavioral disorders. Issues addressed include differential diagnosis, prevention, intervention, and the role of speech-language pathologists. (Author/DB)

CHARGE association is described as a diagnostic label for a group of congenital malformations, including coloboma, heart defects, atresia choanae, retarded postnatal growth/central nervous system defects, genital hypoplasia, and ear deformities. Etiology and characteristics of the CHARGE association are discussed, along with implications for…

This article discusses the manifestations of attention deficit disorder (ADD) in children who are deaf or hard of hearing, the impact of ADD on behavior and performance, its prevalence, recent legislative initiatives, challenges for managing the problem, and directions for future research. (Author/JDD)

This article reviews the studies that used microswitches and speech output systems with people with severe/profound intellectual or multiple disabilities during the 1986-1999 period and discusses the encouraging research findings and the economic practicality of these two forms of technology. Research needs are addressed. (Contains references.)…

The first in a series of three publications which address the prevention and treatment of developmental handicaps, this volume includes sections on developmental issues and the consideration of linkages. Section I includes the four following papers: "Early Intervention: The State of the Art" (N. Johnson and H. Chamberlin);…

Students with the dual handicaps of hearing impairment and mental retardation display special problems in language acquisition. These problems do not appear to have been addressed by curricula that have been designed for either of the single handicap groups. Since specially designed curricula for this population are virtually nonexistent, a…

Delayed language development is compared to normal development along six basic parameters, and the problem of language delay among handicapped children is addressed. Interaction characteristics that occur at an early stage between the mother and handicapped child are also reviewed, along with the way parents tend to compensate for their child's…

Study of three adults with severe multiple congenital limb deficiencies does not support Goffman's theory of stigma. For them, self-display is a strategy for self-empowerment in which the primary focus is the experience of the person with disabilities rather than the reactions of people who are "normal." (Author/BJV)

The scant literature that does exist is reviewed, and suggestions are made for assessing mobility potential, improving locomotor skills, organizing physical exercises, and teaching orientation skills and cane travel to such persons. (Author/DLS)

The first section of the journal covers selected topics of interest in the areas of incidence and services to deaf-visually impaired persons, federal legislation on interpreters and telecommunications, and the educational significance of three levels of hearing loss. (PHR)

This paper examines the basic tenets of the 1968 blueprint for change offered by Lloyd Dunn, which outlined a progressive plan to improve special education for students labeled as slow learners and educable mentally retarded. Current extensions of the blueprint are offered along with a rationale for including those students with extensive support…

Research on emergent literacy is applied to children with severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI). Factors shown to have the greatest influence on emerging literacy skills are identified, as are diverging experiences of young children with SSPI. Intervention strategies suggested for these children include increasing access to books and…