The results of an auditory screening protocol administered to 342 adolescents (ages 10-20) suggest a high level of noise exposure in the adolescent population. Overall failure rate was 25%. Significant correlations were found between firearm use and hearing loss at 6000 Hertz. Screening and education efforts are urged. (Author/CR)

A preschool screening battery was presented to a sample of 198 children with and without mild learning problems. Cross-sample test validation was demonstrated when 81% of both groups were correctly classified. Interrater reliability of 80% or greater on all but one of the tasks was demonstrated. (Contains references.) (Author/PB)

Three studies are reported addressing the reliability of the Scale for Assessing Emotional Disturbance (SAED), a standardized, norm-reference measure linked to the federal definition of emotional disturbance (ED). Results indicate the SAED possesses acceptable test-retest reliability and reasonable interrater reliability and can assist in the…

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)

Presents an overview of the context and clinical principles of the use of developmental screening instruments (DSIs) to identify children with developmental disabilities that would not be recognized without their use. Offers guidelines for evaluating and using DSIs. Explains reasons for using DSIs in pediatric clinical settings and why they have…

This article discusses six criteria for justifying universal infant hearing screening, including: significant consequences must result when the disorder is not detected, programs must be available, accessible, and cost-effective, and birth-admission screening must result in an improved outcome. It concludes that universal detection of infant…

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…

Despite the importance of early intervention for most disorders to minimize potential deleterious lifetime effects for the individuals concerned, there is currently no universally accepted protocol for the early screening, identification, and assessment of specific learning disabilities, and no consistent age at which initial diagnosis occurs. In…

WPPS (Weschsler Preschool Primary Scale of Intelligence) and screening test scores of 72 children at risk for learning disability at age five were examined three years later. At follow-up there were 32 poor and 40 good readers. Both groups had average intelligence at age five and had received similar special help. (Author/CL)

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 applicability of the Denver Prescreening Developmental Questionnaire in a predominantly Black, low-income population in Mobile, Alabama was assessed. Journal Availability: Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics, P.O. Box 1034, Evanston, IL 60204. (Author/SEW)

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…

Standardization of the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) on 288 babies raning in age from two to 54 weeks in Yucatan, Mexico, yielded such findings as that subtest scores increased with age, and that the DDST failed to identify a "questionable" 16 or 17 babies with borderline scores on the Bayley Motor Scale. (Author/MC)

The feasibility of using a community based high risk register to identify infants with hearing loss was evaluated. For all newborns at the hospital, information obtained from the hospital chart and from the mother Informed parents and physicians about children considered to be at risk for hearing loss. Testing was scheduled for 6 months from the…

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)