An orientation to autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), also known as autism, is provided, and the specific syndrome of autism and deafness is addressed. The two conditions have in common a major problem: communication. Case histories are provided, the development of treatment for autism is discussed, and the separate disorders that make up ASD are…

The authors discuss the incidence of impairments diagnosed among children with congenital rubella syndrome. Approximately 73 percent are hearing impaired, at least 35 percent have congenital heart disorders, and 33 percent have visual defects. (Author)

The association of hearing loss and retinitis pigmentosa has been generally recognized as the genetic disorder of Usher's syndrome. The article reviews findings of this syndrome and suggests strategies for dealing with the clinical and psychological problems displayed by Usher's syndrome patients. (Author/SW)

Described are the origin and current status of mental health services for the deaf at St. Elizabeth's Hosptial in Washington, D.C. (LS)

Screening of 54 deaf vocational clients by the Bender-Gestalt and other tests indicated the likely presence of significantly more brain damage than among the hearing population with a particularly high correlation between low IQ and brain damage in the deaf population. (DB)

This article provides guidelines on diagnosing learning disabilities in deaf or hard-of-hearing children and adults, evaluates major tests in terms of their use with deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals who may have a learning disability, and suggests a battery of tests found to be useful. (Author/JDD)

Analysis of published studies of deaf mentally ill inpatients indicates a greater overall prevalence of mental illness in the deaf population than in the general population. Characteristic symptoms leading to hospitalization of deaf people tend to be different from those of hearing patients. For both hearing and deaf patients, dual diagnosis…

An extensive survey of the literature examines five major etiologies - prenatal rubella, premature birth, complications of Rh factor, meningitis, and genetics - in terms of their relevance to deafness and other disabilities. Following this survey, results of a study of 1,468 deaf children to determine causes of secondary handicaps in deaf children…