Physical, neurodevelopmental, psychoeducational, and child history characteristics were analyzed in 116 second-grade, inner-city children identified as good and poor readers. Ss were basically healthy with few findings of physical or neurological abnormalities, despite significant group differences in the prevalence of "soft signs" and in all…

The trend to include mildly mentally retarded, emotionally disturbed (behavior disordered), and learning disabled children in the same generic category and in the same school programs is increasing. The author believes that the noncategorical trend in special education can endanger the appropriate education of many children. (Author)

H. Myklebust's Pupil Rating Scale (PRS) was administered to the first (N=92) and second (N=130) grades of a middle-class suburban elementary school to ascertain its effectiveness for predicting reading and arithmetic difficulties. (Author)

The author discusses how cataracts and glaucoma differ when they occur in children and why they may be more difficult to treat. While these conditions occur infrequently in children, they are more damaging and difficult to treat than when they occur in adults. (PHR)

The California Child Health Disability Prevention (CHDP) program provides direct patient care by pediatric nurse practitioners in a school setting. Guidelines for instituting similar programs are provided. (JMF)

The Koppitz Human Figure Drawing (HFD) Test was examined for use in early identification of academically not-ready kindergarten children. HFD scores of children who later "passed" the Metropolitan Readiness Test were compared with HFD scores of children who later "failed." Results indicate that HFD scores are useful in…

Teachers estimated the prevalence of emotional and learning disorders in 51,739 children aged 5 to 14 years in Vancouver City. A mean rate of identification of 8.2 percent of children in public schools was found. Boys preponderated substantially over girls except for those aged 14 years. (Author)

Drawing on data from a large epidemiological study concerning the definition and identification of learning disabled (LD) adolescents, the article discusses whether LD adolescents, as they are being identified in the public schools, are different from other low achieving (LA) peers, and, if so, how they are different. (DLS)

The article reviews the literature on the quantification of achievement-aptitude differences in learning disabled students, outlines and discusses criteria for new and more adequate procedures, and presents step-by-step procedures that can be routinely followed. (Author/DLS)

A study analyzed the assessment profiles of 48 young adults with giftedness and a learning disability (G/LD) and 46 young adults with a learning disability profile without giftedness. Findings indicate that the adults with G/LD tended to be identified later and have more discrepancy among cognitive assessment profile scores. (Author/CR)

A study of 319 individuals with autism (ages 3-43) and 113 other subjects found that a single set of criteria, as operationalized by individually structured questions in the Autism Diagnostic Interview and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised, was effective in differentiating autism from mental disabilities and language impairment. (Author/CR)

Argues that denial of Attention Deficit Disorder's existence is harmful to those afflicted and that understanding the disorder will assist sufferers in putting their intelligence to work. Describes symptoms such as hyperfocus on tasks, daydreaming, disarray, and forgetfulness. Explains away myths, including that the disorder is curable or will be…

Comparison of the speech of 37 preschool children with speech-language impairment (SLI), 40 language-matched children, and 45 age-matched children found that errors in a set of morphemes marking tense characterized the SLI children. Evidence supporting the use of these morphemes as clinical markers for SLI is offered. (DB)

The Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behavior was factor analyzed in 2 institutional samples and 1 community sample of persons with mental retardation (total n=353). Factor analysis revealed no strong justification for the instrument's seven scales. An alternative three-factor solution, comprising intrapersonal maladaptive behavior, psychotic…

The majority of students with emotional problems sit undetected in general education classrooms. This article highlights the warning signs of developing emotional problems, as well as strategies to help students overcome their emotional barriers to learning. (GCP)