The author expresses concerns regarding three issues in the field of learning disabilities: (1) the nature and quality of research in this field; (2) the divisive actions of leaders in the field; and (3) issues of mainstreaming resulting in both parental and professional backlashes. (Author)

Two experiments tested possible explanations for previous research demonstrating lower span of apprehension for learning disabled students. In experiment 1, the length of visual persistence was less for LD subjects, while in experiment 2, the rate of information pick-up was slower for LD subjects. (CL)

A sociometric and observational analysis of the social environment of seven learning disabled (LD) and 90 regular class peers, in grades two through five, yielded results such as that nonhandicapped and LD students were accepted at an equal level by class peers. (Author/MC)

Comprehensively reviews known examples of genetically influenced learning disabilities and speech and language disorders, including familial dyslexia, stuttering, and other speech and language disorders, as well as sex-chromosome anomalies, treated PKU, and minor auto-somal anomalies. (Author/RH)

The relationship between cognitive strategy and theoretical constructs associated with cognitive style, cognitive behavior modification, and metacognition, particularly regarding the education of learning disabled students, is examined. Future research directions, including the relationship between a tactual repertoire and metacognitive status,…

Research is reviewed regarding the effects of stimulant drugs on academic performance in children who are hyperactive, learning disabled, or both hyperactive and learning disabled. Among conclusions are that, while stimulants may increase, academic test scores are not particularly great, and clincial implications for adults appear minimal.…

Studies involving 30 learning-disabled elementary students support the contention that reading comprehension difficulties among learning-disabled children are partly due to inefficient memorization strategies, and demonstrate the efficacy of practical, cost-effective mnemonic training procedures which significantly increase reading comprehension…

The apprehension spans of learning-disabled and normal boys were compared by means of a forced-choice letter-recognition task involving tachistoscopic exposures of letter displays. Results of three experiments indicated that the decreased spans of apprehension observed in the first experiment for learning-disabled boys resulted either from greater…

A methodological analysis presents 26 self control investigations (self instructions, self determination of contingencies, self evaluation, self goal setting, and self determination and/or administration of external reinforcement) conducted in classroom settings with learning and/or behaviorally handicapped students. Studies compare subjects and…

The paper discusses the rationale for conducting an ecological assessment of learning disabled students, a model for conceptualizing ecological asessment data, factors affecting student performance, sources of ecological assessment data, and implications of such data for the teacher of learning disabled students. (Author/CL)

Written language development of learning disabled (LD) and non-LD students at four age levels (9 through 15) was examined on measures of syntax and vocabulary. Seemingly conflicting evidence on syntactic development may have reflected the nature of the measure used. LD students' writing showed a smaller variety of word types. (CL)

Administered the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (Revised) and reading, mathematics, and written-language subtests of the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Test Battery to 28 regular education and learning disabled students. Except for correlations between form M and the reading and written-language subtests for the LD group, values did not…

The Institute at Virginia has focused its efforts on learning disability (LD) children with attentional problems with emphasis on cognitive behavior modification techniques. Studies included investigations of metacognition, information processing, self-recording of task-related behavior, and strategy training. Adult-child interactions and…

Morphological ability performance of 20 learning disabled (LD) and 20 normal seven- to eight-year-old boys on the Berry-Talbott Language Test of Comprehension of Grammar yielded the major findings that the LD boys did not differ significantly from normals on item categories ranked by difficulty level. (Author/MC)

Improving the balance of learning disabled children was investigated through the use of a 12-week structured gross motor home learning program. Analyses concluded that parents can significantly enhance the static and dynamic balance of their learning disabled children by implementing a structured gross-motor training program at home. (Author/PN)