The research concerning three major types of measures designed to identify young children at risk of experiencing school problems is reviewed. Teacher perception, test batteries, and single instruments are discussed in terms of general considerations for use, advantages, and disadvantages. (Author/DB)

A survey on the methods and system of detecting hearing loss in infants in Canada's Maritime Provinces is reported, and results are related to other research in Canada and the United States. Results are said to show inadequate detection. Recommendations, including increased collaboration between health and education professionals, are made. (CL)

A study examined the validity of the Screening Tool for Autism in Two-Year-Olds (STAT) as a stage 2 screening instrument in a clinic-based sample of two-year-olds with autism (n=12) and with nonautistic developmental disorders (n=21). Results provide preliminary support for the utility of the STAT as an early screening of autism. (Contains…

The author warns of dangers associated with Ontarios's Kindergarten Early Identification Program, including hasty and incomplete assessment of children who will then be labeled exceptional, biases affecting children with cultural differences, and inadequacy of many screening and assessment instruments. (CL)

The validity of using an analysis of patterns of performance on the Meeting Street School Screening test versus using the composite cutoff score for identification of learning disabilities was analyzed for 1,377 first graders. Use of subtest scatter predicted later learning disability placements less accurately than chance. (Author/DB)

Discusses various problems in preschool screening for learning disabilities. Reviews studies which show that, in spite of such problems, early identification of learning disabilities is a viable process. Examines advances in reading theory and research which point to new variables that may enhance the predictive power of early screening devices…

Describes design and implementation of a project which focused on early identification of potentially gifted students among youths frequently overlooked because of socioeconomic, cultural, and/or linguistic differences. Also discusses validation of a battery of procedures and techniques designed to identify potentially gifted students among…

The brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) was evaluated as a hearing screening test in 168 high-risk newborns. The BAEP was found to be a sensitive procedure for the early identification of hearing-impaired newborns. However, the yield of significant hearing abnormalities was less than predicted in other studies using BAEP. (Author/CL)

The average age at which profoundly hearing-impaired children are identified in the United States and in Israel is compared. Israel's hearing screening programs for assessing infants are described, their effectiveness is noted, and suggestions are made for possible applications in the United States. (Author/JDD)

The accuracy of 3 developmental screening tests administered to 89 young children was compared. The Battelle Developmental Inventory Screening Test was more accurate than the Academic Scale of the Developmental Profile-II and the Denver-II, identifying correctly 72% of children with difficulties and 76% of children without diagnoses. (Author/JDD)

This study evaluated application of a revised criterion for the Language Development Survey, a parent-report screening measure designed to identify young children with language delays. The revised criterion generated fewer false positives, improved specificity, and improved positive predictive value while maintaining the high sensitivity and high…

The Abridged Health History Inventory (AHHI) has been used by public health nurses to promote early identification of children at risk for learning problems. The AHHI, based on adapted material from the system of Multi-Cultural Pluralistic Assessment, has shown modest reliability and validity as well as utility. (CL)

The process of identification of hearing loss in preschool children, including infant screening techniques, audiological testing methods, and other tests used to determine the kind and degree of hearing loss, are discussed. Appropriate habilitation and educational placement is also discussed, including hearing aid selection and parent…

The need for reliable, valid, and economical preschool screening measures to identify psychoeducational problems as mandated by P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Child Act) led to the development of the Minneapolis Preschool Screening Instrument (MPSI). (SW)

Thirty-four (Study 1) and 37 (Study 2) pairs of three-year-old children with and without mild learning problems were presented with a battery of five or six simple cognitive tasks. Children without learning problems performed at a significantly higher level on 17 of the 18 measures. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)