The etiology and identification of learning disabilities are summarized and a team approach in assessment and treatment is suggested. Topics covered include definition of learning disabilities (definitions which refer to central nervous system functioning and definitions which emphasize the learning and behavior disorders without central nervous…

The authors discussed common approaches used to identify school children with learning difficulties, examined past studies on the prevalence of learning disabled school children, surveyed methodological and conceptual problems in identifying children with learning problems, and presented recommendations for future prevalence studies. Prevalence…

Project Child was explained to be funded under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title III and was described to be a regional model demonstration program for the identification of preschool handicapped children especially with learning disabilities. Primary goals of the project were reported to be stimulation of parents and public to…

The SEARCH and TEACH programs were developed to locate and intervene on the behalf of children with potential learning disabilities. (PHR)

Learning disabilities are a health threat because they prevent a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and they should be treated with a variety of remedial strategies reflecting their multiple causes. (MB)

The study documented the existence of specific learning disabilities among primary school children in Botswana and compared the relative effectiveness of a behavior rating scale, a group test of visual-motor integration, and teacher identification in identifying such children. (DB)

Examines referral information for 269 learning disabled students in grades one through five. Referral reasons were classified as academic, behavior, and academic and behavior and were analyzed according to particular concern (e.g., reading deficits, attentional problems, etc.). The majority of students were referred for either academic or both…

Evaluation of the relationship between hyperactivity and learning difficulties in 1,593 Australian elementary students indicated twice as many males as females with learning difficulties; 11% of the sample were hyperactive; 41% of the subjects with learning difficulties were also hyperactive; and 3.2% of all subjects had both hyperactivity and…

The article examines reasons for over-referral of language minority students for learning disabilities placement including misinterpretation of problem behaviors stemming from linguistic or cultural differences and stresses the importance of documenting prior interventions to distinguish differences from handicapping conditions. (DB)

The study applied a standard-score and regression-analysis procedure to achievement-potential discrepancy data for new learning disability placements of about 90 (LD) learning disabled students. Results indicated that only two-thirds of the initially placed students exhibited a severe discrepancy suggesting the frequent placement of slow learners…

Problem-behavior rating scale data on elementary-aged learning disabled and normal boys were factor analyzed. Somewhat different factors were identified for normal and learning disabled groups. Implications of the findings for hyperactivity as distinct from other conduct problems and for classifying youngsters' behavior and emotional problems are…

The article analyzes research used to support the notion of selective attention deficits in learning disabled children. Conceptual and methodological issues involved are explored, indicating that evidence of selective attention deficits are at best inconclusive and that using these findings as the basis for classification and intervention is…

Evaluated the validity of the Slosson Intelligence test as determined by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R). Results indicated that the Slosson correctly predicted functioning level to within 10 IQ points of the WISC-R Full Scale scores for 88 percent of the subjects. (LLL)

The problem of choosing educational and psychological tests to identify students with learning disabilities is discussed within a cost-efficiency framework. An efficiency index for estimating the classification accuracy of tests is presented and the use of expert judgment and the cost-effectiveness ratio is demonstrated with a numerical example.…

Four primary issues are covered: the role of different measurement models in disparities of LD children serviced across states, types of students served as LD but not actually LD, components of severe discrepancies between aptitude and achievement, and state of the art in evaluating LD students. (CL)