Scores of 24 children with constitutional short stature on intellectual, academic, and visual motor functioning were compared to those of 23 subjects with normal height for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Contrary to conclusions of uncontrolled studies, data showed short and control groups to be comparable on all variables. (Author/CL)

The incidence of depression in 282 children (6 to 14 years old) admitted to a child and family psychiatric unit for a variety of emotional/behavioral disorders was investigated. (Author/SB)

Medical records of 88 five- to twelve-year-old boys (44 with central language problems and a diagnosed hyperactive behavior syndrome) were reviewed. The best predictor of membership in the group with language problems and diagnosed hyperactivity was family alcohol problems. (Author)

A case study of a 10-year-old boy with poor performance in language and math investigated whether increasing on task behavior in one subject area will increase on task behavior in another area. Results indicated that increasing on task behavior in one curriculum area does not necessarily generalize to another area. (PHR)

This study, with 43 boys ages 8-12, found that children with relatively high concentrations of lead in their hair reacted significantly slower in a simple reaction-time task than did children with relatively low concentrations of lead in their hair. In addition, the former were significantly less flexible in changing their focus of attention.…

Examination of the relationship between educational attainment and long-lasting, bilateral otitis media with effusion (OME) in 270 Dutch children (ages 2 to 4) found that, at age 7, early bilateral OME affected spelling ability but not reading ability. Effects of treatment with ventilation tubes were not found. (DB)