A follow-up study of 26 children (ages 5-13) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and low intelligence found that children identified with both characteristics have significant behavioral and emotional problems while in their early adolescence. A significant minority had problems at school and with the law. (CR)

The effects of resident behavior and resident characteristics on the quantity and quality of care 452 residents with severe mental retardation received from 416 direct-care staff was examined. Results found certain resident characteristics, and behavior did influence specific aspects of the care they received, especially ambulance, communication,…

The effects of food satiation on rumination and a collateral self-stimulatory behavior were examined in three profoundly retarded individuals. For all three individuals, the provision of unlimited quantities of cereal and milk during mealtime resulted in reductions in rumination and decreases in the collateral behaviors. (Author/DB)

Four experiments with six students with multiple profound disabilities examined the function of behavioral stereotypies and sensory modalities maintaining them. Findings are discussed in terms of the sensory and social reinforcers that maintain stereotypy, assessment procedures used to identify reinforcers, and the interpretation of assessment…

This study compared the occurrence and characteristics of self-stimulatory behaviors of 5 children with developmental delays and 10 nondisabled children (matched for either mental or chronological age). Few differences were found between groups in percentage of time spent in self-stimulatory behavior, the variety of such behaviors, the speed at…

The phenomena of the induction and entrainment of adjunctive behaviors was investigated in 8 people (ages 5-51) with severe or profound mental retardation who exhibited stereotypic behaviors. Seven of the eight demonstrated evidence of schedule-induced stereotypic behavior, whereas five also showed evidence of the entrainment of these behaviors by…

The diets of three individuals with profound mental retardation and histories of coprophagia (ingestion of feces) were supplemented with a nutritionally complete elemental diet called Vivonex, resulting in decreases in the frequency of coprophagia in all three cases. (DB)

A study examined 391 adult referrals to a mental health clinic serving individuals with mental retardation to explore the relationship between referral source and referral reason. Externalizing behaviors were found to be the most common referral reason; however, referral reason did vary as a function of referral source. (Author/CR)

The effects of two levels of exercise (walking versus jogging) in suppressing the self-stimulatory behavior during academic programming of a 5-year-old boy with autism were examined. Decreased physical self-stimulation and "out of seat" behavior were found only for the jogging condition. Sharp reductions in these behaviors did not return…

A case of an institutionalized adult male with Down syndrome and hyperthyroidism is reported. After treatment with radioactive iodine, he was found to be markedly hypothyroid when he was reviewed 11 weeks later. Three treatment options for hyperthyroidism in Down syndrome are reviewed: surgery, medical treatments, and radiotherapy. (Author/CR)

Parents of 601 children and adolescents with mental retardation rated their children on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (ABC). Factor analysis revealed a factor structure similar to the original ABC but without the inappropriate speech factor. Analysis of subject variables revealed main effects for gender, age, and classroom assignment…

The Stereotypy Analysis, a means of analyzing environmental variables associated with differential rates of stereotypic behavior, was conducted with five adults with developmental disabilities. Results indicate the analysis was able to detect environmental events associated with stereotypic responding for three subjects and was useful in…

In a population of 425 individuals with Down's syndrome, 5 persons (1.2%) were identified as having Tourette's disorder. The lack of interrelationship between Down's syndrome and Tourette's disorder argues against an atypical Tourette's disorder. Diagnoses of tardive Tourette's disorder were based on absence of family history of Tourette's, late…

Thirteen people with severe/profound mental retardation and serious problem behavior were transferred from institutional care to group homes in England. Participation in meaningful activities increased significantly and included a wider range of activities. Most participants did not increase their major problem behavior. (Author/JDD)

Scores from the Child Behavior Checklist and the Client Development Evaluation Report for 67 children and adolescents with mental retardation were examined to evaluate the factorial validity of the instruments. Results found that both instruments were successful in measuring maladaptive behaviors and both yielded two-dimensional representations of…