The Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behavior, an instrument used to identify persons with both mental retardation and mental health problems, was evaluated with 89 Dutch adults having mental retardation. Reliability and validity of the scale and relationships with subject characteristics were examined. (Author/DB)

The validity of the schizophrenia subscale of the Psychopathology Instrument for Mentally Retarded Adults (PIMRA) was evaluated with 65 adults having mild to moderate mental retardation as well as either schizophrenia, depression, or no psychopathology. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted, as were interrater reliability analyses.…

The use of standardized psychoeducational diagnostic instruments to identify learning disabilities was evaluated with 19 students (ages 7 to 13) with sensorineural hearing impairments. Students with hearing impairment were found to demonstrate learning disabilities with a frequency similar to that found in students with normal hearing, suggesting…

Therapeutic intervention to treat chronic food refusal in two children with multiple developmental disabilities consisted of elimination of feeding "demands" that provoked child agitation, incorporation of sensory stimulation as contingent reinforcement, and gradual introduction of the requirements for oral consumption. Consistent oral…

A urine alarm, typically used to treat nocturnal enuresis, was effectively used to treat diurnal enuresis in a 15-year-old female with depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder. The study indicated that the alarm eliminated wetting in both treatment phases and that continence was maintained at three-month and…

This study found that word learning ability in only 10 of 20 children (ages 7-10) with hearing impairment (HI) was comparable to performance of 20 hearing children matched for receptive vocabulary knowledge. Degree of hearing loss was not related to language or word-learning abilities. Results suggest the coexistence of a language impairment for…

Teachers and parents completed the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) for 17 congenitally blind children (ages 4 to 11). The modified format ABC completed by teachers detected three of four children with pervasive developmental disorder without any false positives. (Author/SW)

This study, with 13 mothers of Down's Syndrome children (ages 7 to 8) and comparison groups of mothers of motor handicapped children and of children with both mental retardation and psychotic symptoms, found mood disturbances uncommon in the mothers of DS and motor handicapped children. DS mothers' experience of social support was generally not…

Ratings of 224 students with serious emotional disturbances by 40 teachers indicated that conduct disorders were very prevalent, were correlated with other problematic aspects of temperament and classroom competence, and co-occurred with other types of behavioral problems. Implications of the study for making eligibility decisions for special…

A system of graduated guidance was used to teach three children (ages six through nine) with severe multiple disabilities to don and remove their jackets and coats independently. The training approach involved initial use of oversized garments, fading of guidance, and individualized reinforcement. Skill maintenance and generalization were also…

The author of EC 604 294 examines the lack of training students receive in applying problem-solving processes to novel situations and explores the development of her interest in defining and operationalizing the concept of independent living skills in individuals with disabilities, especially deafness. (JDD)

This paper reports on outcomes of a deinstitutionalization project for children with severe multiple intellectual and physical disabilities, in which 98 residents of a hospital were relocated to small group homes. Positive effects were found in self-care and in social interactions. No meaningful changes in physical health were observed. (Author/PB)

This article reviews normal visual development and the role of visual gaze behaviors in attention and social interaction, discusses how the information applies to many multiply handicapped visually impaired children, and describes ways of incorporating this information into assessment and programing. (DB)

This survey of 82 institutions and 490 teachers serving deaf students found that significant numbers of deaf students also have vision problems and that teachers do not receive adequate training and information to meet the needs of this population. (Author/JDD)

Comparison of residential rehabilitation outcomes of blind clients with (n=45) or without (n=67) previous psychiatric diagnosis found no intergroup differences after rehabilitation in skill, attitude, and overall adjustment. All clients improved significantly during rehabilitation. (DB)