In this study we characterized profiles of communicative functions and forms of children with autism and intellectual disability (n = 26), as compared to typically developing children (n = 26) with a comparable nonverbal mental age (2-5 years). Videotapes of the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales--Developmental Profile were analyzed using…

Understanding the underlying qualitative features of memory deficits in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can provide critical information for early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study sought to investigate the utility of both learning and retention measures in (a) the diagnosis of MCI, (b) predicting progression to AD, and (c)…

Verbal self instruction (VSIT) has potential for training persons with an intellectual disability in the use of strategies, particularly in promoting generalization of behavior. Among technical issues discussed are providing appropriate initial training procedures and identifying differential task effects. Problems with range of application, goal…

Generalization of four retarded children's (five to eight years old) object naming responses to stimuli in the natural environment was assessed after training with either objects or pictures. Generalization was typically greater after training with objects. In a second experiment, an alternating procedure resulted in substantial increases in…

Primary purposes of the study were to determine if mentally retarded students, when compared to nonretarded students, exhibited a deficit in the early stages of rote verbal learning, and whether such an early stage deficit could be reduced by pretraining. (KW)

Three studies examining the effects of correspondence training (reinforcement for matching verbal and nonverbal behavior) with 22 mildly and moderately retarded students revealed that the approach can be used to decrease maladaptive and increase adaptive behavior and that it can produce generalized behavior change. (CL)

Results revealed a significant Intelligence x Frequency interaction, which indicated that the retarded group exhibited an incidential learning deficit but only under the high frequency condition. A possible explanation for this finding was discussed within the context of depth of processing. (Author)

Rates of acquiescence were alarmingly high in institutions as well as community samples; lower IQ respondents tended to acquiesce more than higher IQ respondents; and, acquiescence had major effects on the content of responses. (Author)

In two studies of verbal instruction of young mentally retarded adults, increasing the speed of verbal instruction reduced the level of nonverbal performance, particulary in subjects with poor nonverbal scores. Slight increases in speed of instruction can have major and negative impacts. Redundancy in verbal instruction inhibits nonverbal…

Operant and imitative techniques were used in programing generalization of verbal behavior in a child. (Author)

Two samples of 31 educable mentally handicapped (EMH) children differentiated by IQ level were given a test of verbal problem solving in order to identify the effect of three parameters upon verbal problem-solving performance. The three parameters studied were existential quantification, superordinate set identification, and extraneous…

Briefly reviewed is research on paired-associate learning in which subjects usually are retardates. Paired-associate learning is said to involve mediation of associations for numbers, letters, grouping of numbers or letters, or other groups such as words. It is explained that retardates have been used as subjects in research on paired-associate…

Investigated with 40 trainable mentally retarded children was the use of instructional modeling to teach visual and verbal mediation skills. (Author)