Part 2 of a two-part series, the article highlights research relevant to learning disability (LD) diagnostic practices, summarizes a study of current diagnostic practices related to learning problem referrals, and contrasts three ethical perspectives used in judging the appropriateness of such activity. (See EC 120 477 for Part 1.) (Author/DLS)

One-hundred and sixty-four Black, White, and Latino children (7-15years old) with possible learning disabilities were administered the WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) and the WISC-R (Revised) to examine the similarity in the amount of subtest scatter equivalence of meaning, and degree of equivalent diagnosis between the two tests.

A child psychiatrist offers a brief introduction to learning disabilities: their causes, common signals of learning disabilities, student assessment to clarify the existence of a learning disability, and treatment with special educational services or medication. (JDD)

This article takes issue with the diagnosis of a group of students as learning disabled as presented in a previous article that focused at learning disabilities in the context of second-language learning. (JL)

Nationally certified school psychologists received case study material containing both relevant and irrelevant information for diagnosing a learning disability. The psychologists were asked to indicate the probability that the client was learning-disabled, their confidence in the diagnosis, and their decision-making strategy. Results indicate that…

Administered Differential Ability Scales (DAS) to 83 children and adolescents with learning disabilities. Identified six subgroups: generalized, high functioning, normal, underachievement, borderline, and dyseidetic. Not all subgroups displayed expected discrepancy between intelligence and achievement associated with current definitions of…

Documents the development of diagnostic assessment procedures for students with a specific learning disability. Findings and recommendations point to the need for early identification of special-needs students and the provision of support programs to develop their lifelong learning skills. (JOW)

Evaluates the effects of rater reliability of common IQ and achievement tests on subsequent learning disorder eligibility determinations, particularly with respect to difficulty level of individual subtests and expertise of the scorer. The study corroborates previous findings of strong interrater reliability on most subtests of common IQ and…

More than 20 years ago, psychologists first described gifted students with learning disabilities (LD). In the past decade, several sets of identification criteria have been proposed for this population. Many of the suggested assessment practices are unsupported by research in psychoeducational assessment, and some have been directly contradicted…

This article discusses issues of classification and identification, while evaluating some of the continuing controversies about learning disabilities (LD) related to those topics. The author suggests that many problems have to do with confusion between the two. Despite years of effort and an extraordinary increase in the number of individuals…

A recent overview of the field of learning disabilities (Torgesen, 2004) laid out several issues that will likely consume the field for the foreseeable future, including problems of definition and etiology, differentiation of learning disabilities from other disabilities, and issues in identification and service delivery. It has been approximately…

This paper provides a response to the thoughtful paper presented by Gerber in this issue and at the National Research Center on Learning Disabilities Responsiveness-to-Intervention Symposium in Kansas City with guidance from five major questions posed by the organizers of the symposium. Gerber's paper provides interesting perspectives regarding…

Response to Intervention (RTI) models have attracted great attention as an alternative to traditional methods used for identifying students with learning disabilities. A major feature of this approach is the implementation of academic interventions in general education and measuring the student's response to those interventions. A common question…

Introduction: The present study reports cross-cultural comparisons of body mass index (BMI) and growth in Prader-Willi syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with obesity, growth restriction and mild learning disability. Our objectives were to: (1) compare rates of obesity in adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) in France, with data…

The book describes Project Prevention, an interdisciplinary project developed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, to identify risk factors for mental disorders and preventive interventions. After an introductory chapter, the following eight chapters cover: the scope of Project Prevention; children at high risk (e.g.,…