Nurses applied standard behavioral criteria for major depression to evaluate 89 institutionalized adults with severe or profound intellectual disability. Results suggested that several additional behaviors listed on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist and the Developmental Behavior Checklist may be associated with this disorder in this population.…

This study examined dynamic assessment as a less biased evaluation procedure for assessing the language-learning ability of Native American young children (N=23) identified as either stronger or weaker language learners. Through a test-teach-test protocol, participants were taught principles of categorization. Results supported the further…

This article reviews the literature on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits, their similarity to gifted and creative behaviors, and the implications for educational interventions. A case study of a boy identified with ADHD is provided. Conclusions suggest the need for more varied instructional interventions, emotional and social…

A study examined literature on mathematics learning disabilities (LD) and identified specific behaviors of students with mathematics LD. Data are presented from observations of 391 special educators on 1,724 students with LD, 870 with math weaknesses. Difficulty with multi-step problems was the single most important behavior for predicting math…

A study obtained the ratings of parents, teachers, and youth for 16 adolescent girls who had been treated in a psychiatric hospital and 16 controls, for total behavior problems and competence. Only parents identified their hospitalized daughters as severely clinically disturbed and in need of mental health services. (Author/CR)

Case studies based on interviews with five gifted deaf adults found a common frustration with schooling, a reluctance to be double-labeled as gifted and deaf, recognition of the importance of a supportive home environment and positive socialization experiences, and identity with the deaf community as a critical factor in personal success. Results…

Two studies investigated a brief, processing-dependent, nonword repetition task, designed to minimize biases associated with traditional language tests. Results revealed that nonword repetition distinguished between school-age children independently identified as language impaired or normally developing, suggesting its potential usefulness as a…

A study investigating the over-identification of rural minority students as learning disabled used a sample of 123 rural Mississippi students classified as learning disabled. Three possible ways of modifying the assessment protocol were attempted. A discrepancy formula incorporating a minimum full-scale IQ score of 85 balanced the number of…

A comparison of the reading performance of 30 second-graders with learning disabilities and 30 controls found all but three of 10 subtests of the Woodcock Diagnostic Reading Battery produced significant differences between groups. The three subtests that did not reach significance were Oral Vocabulary, Listening Comprehension, and Memory for…

A study examined comorbidity of the five federal definition characteristics among 1,352 students already identified as having emotional disturbance (ED). The extent of comorbidity of ED characteristics was related to the criterion for deviance and to each of the selected student variables, particularly school level and educational placement.…

This article describes characteristics of individuals with Asperger Syndrome, a developmental disability defined by impairments in social relationships and verbal and nonverbal communication and by restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. Diagnostic criteria, essential features of the disability, and other notable…

This study examined the validity and internal and interrater reliability of the Wing Subgroups Questionnaire, an assessment that classifies children with autism into subtypes. Subjects were 42 students (ages 5 to 22) enrolled in multihandicapped special education classrooms. Findings support the reliability and validity of the questionnaire for…

Current research supporting the language basis of dyslexia is reviewed, suggesting that phonological processing deficits are at the core of dyslexia and less pronounced reading problems. The role of higher-level language functioning and phonological processing is considered in an expanded view of the language basis of reading disabilities.…

Basic information for regular classroom teachers with students who are both gifted and learning disabled covers definition of this population; incidence; characteristics; and six teaching strategies, such as flexibility in how student demonstrates mastery of material, adapting for reading differences, and using attention-directing techniques. A…

Internal consistency and construct and criterion-related validity of the Conners Teacher Rating Scale were studied with 540 students (ages 5-10), with emphasis on its utility as a measure of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and other disruptive behavior disorders. Internal consistency of factors ranged from .87 to .94. Convergent validity…