This article reviews the efforts made since 1962 to define learning disabilities, discusses 11 prominent definitions, identifies important conceptual elements on which the definitions differ, and calls for a consensual acceptance of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities definition. (PB)

This article presents a reinterpretation of Gerald Coles's 1987 book "The Learning Mystique," viewing it as making a positive contribution to the learning disabilities field in both practical and theoretical ways, by offering the possibility of different treatment options and expanding the intellectual base for researchers. Potential research…

The article describes the eligibility model developed by the community college system of California for students with learning disabilities. Major activities of the research and development process leading to the eligibility model are detailed including components, procedures, and criteria. The process combines clinical and databased evidence with…

The Woodcock Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery (Revised) is reviewed in regard to its application with learning-disabled (LD) adults. Strengths of the revised test are identified as are concerns about the low representation of LD adults in the normative sample and the complex interpretation process. (DB)

Reviews biological bases of twinning and descriptions of 10 research designs. Summarizes findings from a selected sampling of twin studies of learning disabilities, personality and temperament, attitudes, psychopathology, and social behavior. Discusses findings with special reference to the activities of mental health practitioners and counselors.…

Examined Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) scores of 100 learning-disabled and 60 mildly retarded children retested on 3 separate occasions at 3-year intervals. Different results were obtained depending upon criterion considered. (Author/ABL)

The study investigated the effects of training two learning and behavior disordered elementary students to ignore the inappropriate behavior and to reinforce the appropriate behavior of three peers who were also learning and behavior disordered. Results indicated the students were able to utilize extinction and reinforcement procedures…

This article reports on homework practices of 88 teachers of learning-disabled students. While the findings indicated that respondents were using several quality practices, some problems were noted, especially as regards motivational difficulties. Suggestions for confronting these problems and improving homework procedures are presented.…

This study sought to identify clusters or subtypes of children with learning disabilities (LD, n=24) and brain damage (BD, n=36) using a neuropsychological battery. Five clusters were determined, but no one cluster was composed exclusively of LD or BD subjects. Significant qualitative and quantitative differences between clusters were found.…

Comparison of behaviors exhibited by 19 hyperactive and 17 nonhyperactive (learning disordered) children found differences between groups to be more often qualitative than quantitative. Hyperactive students demonstrated more talking, unsystematic search, and motor impersistence while nonhyperactive students demonstrated more upper extremity…

Studies the sequence in development of conservation concepts in 19 language-impaired children aged 6-9 years and 20 children of 3-11 years who had no impairment. The two groups showed a similar sequence of development regardless of delay. Conservation of number appeared first, followed by weight, substance, length, area, and volume. (RJC)

The article reviews theories of learning (e.g., stimulus-response, trial and error, operant conditioning, cognitive), considers the role of motivation, and summarizes nine research-supported rules of effective learning. Suggestions are applied to teaching learning strategies to learning-disabled students. (DB)

The article gives suggestions for teaching mainstreamed secondary level learning-disabled and other students notetaking skills. Adaptations to help the student when notes are taken from a lecture and when notes are taken from the chalkboard are offered and include giving the student a lecture outline on which to add notes. (DB)

A study of 90 learning-disabled and 94 nonlearning-disabled students, aged 9-12, found that the peer status of subjects was related to their social behavior and to their placement in the school system. These findings lend support for Judith Wiener's Reciprocity Model of Peer Status. (Author/JDD)

This paper focuses on definitions, incidence, and characteristics of the multihandicapping condition known as "learning disabled, hearing impaired," in order to provide a means of identifying these children and determining whether or not they require different teaching strategies. (JDD)