This theme issue focuses on early intervention. The four articles presented on this theme are: (1) "Deaf Infants, Hearing Mothers: A Research Report" (Kathryn P. Meadow-Orlans, and others), reporting findings on effects of auditory loss on early development; (2) "Maintaining Involvement of Inner City Families in Early Intervention Programs through a Program of Incentives: Looking beyond Family Systems to Societal Systems" (Richard P. Brinket, and others) stressing the need for an integrated approach to family services; (3) "Interdisciplinary Interagency Training for Professionals Serving Chemically Dependent Families" (Vicki Krodenski, and others), describing a California program providing interdisciplinary and interagency training to work with this population; (4) "Policy Implementation of Services for Infants and Toddlers with Developmental Delays" (James Gallagher, and others), describing a project to track implementation of Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. A special subsection on attention deficit disorders include the following articles: "A Clarification of State and Local Responsibility under Federal Law To Address the Needs of Children with Attention Deficit Disorders" (a Department of Education policy memorandum); "OSEP's Initiatives for Meeting the Needs of Children with Attention Deficit Disorders" (Ellen Schiller and Jane Hauser); and "Attention Deficit Disorders: Academic Functioning and Stimulant Medication" (Steven R. Forness). (DB)