This information fact sheet on screening newborns to prevent mental retardation defines newborn screening and outlines how screening is performed. It discusses the six most common disorders resulting in mental retardation for which states most commonly screen. These include phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, galactosemia, maple syrup…

A number of critical issues concerning the assessment of children with intellectual disabilities, including definitional problems, psychometric factors, and practical difficulties, are raised in this article. It is suggested that school counsellors and psychologists should consider these issues when assessing children with probable or known…

State guidelines for 1981/82 and 1985/86 were compared to identify trends in definitions and methods used to diagnose learning disabilities (LD). The later guidelines tended to delineate specific achievement discrepancy criteria. However, major components of LD definitions were not altered and IQ cutoffs were not implemented. (Author/DB)

Analysis of questionnaires administered to 143 Head Start personnel supported the efficacy of educational programs for increasing identification and reporting by workers. Complex interactions between certain characteristics of the reporter (e.g., educational level) and prior training in maltreatment identification were revealed. Neglect appeared…

A 5-step procecdure was used to establish item bias on the Social Behavior Assessment Scale with Mexican-American children, (grades 1-3) as subjects. Results revealed that Mexican Americans are less likely to be given negative scores than are Anglos. Moreover, teachers appeared to regard problem behaviors of the two groups differently. (Author/CL)

Results of recategorizing the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Revised) subtest scores of 159 black learning disabled primary grade children into spatial, conceptual, and sequential scales as recommended by A. Bannatyne led to the conclusion that the diagnostic utility of the Bannatyne recategorization is questionable. (Author/DB)

Diagnostic procedures used to identify children (grades K-6) with learning disabilities in 14 school districts were studied and compared. Although some similarities existed between districts, uniformity was lacking in important areas such as test selection, extent of testing, and cutoff scores on intelligence and other tests. (Author/CL)

Though clinical judgement is necessary for appropriate diagnosis and provision of services to learning disabled children, such judgement must be based on objective evidence. A statistical procedure for applying the severe discrepancy criterion dictated in federal regulations is suggested for objectifying learning disability diagnosis. (Author/DB)

The response to a previous article by Mardell-Czednowski and Lessen notes the lack of common criteria for evaluating technical adequacy of assessment instruments used with handicapped children and stresses the need to evaluate instruments with the specific populations to which they are administered. (DB)

The paper describes how the Iowa state education agency has attempted to provide leadership in defining those handicapped students who are behaviorally disordered. Emphasizes the literature base from which initial direction was taken, data-gathering activities initiated by the SEA, and subsequent policy decisions made. (Author/CL)

Comparison of psychometric profiles of learning disabled and non-LD students (total N=223) across LD status, district, and age variables indicated that only severity of academic underachievement consistently differentiated the LD and non-LD pupils. Comparison across districts revealed different LD profiles despite use of identitical eligibility…

Thirty visually impaired children (6-12 years old) were administered The Word Test which does not use visual stimulus. Correlation between age and scores and comparisons of test results for individuals with test norms indicate that The Word Test can be used in assessing language disorders among visually impaired children. (Author/CL)

The article describes the history and resolution of the Lora Litigation (Lora v. Board of Education of the City of New York) and the standards and procedures intended to prevent future discriminatory practices or to detect them as soon as they occur put as forward in the final order. (Author/CL)

Questionnaire data from 276 directors of special education and a review of state plans revealed variations in personnel on evaluation teams, variability in the number of evaluation team members among states, and an apparent reluctance on the part of states to require participation of parents or particular professionals on the multidisciplinary…

Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia responded to a survey about early school screening, giving information about timing, sources of data, and content areas of screening programs. Responses indicate great variation at the state and local district levels, and confusion of screening with evaluation. Results are discussed in relation to…