Screening of 54 deaf vocational clients by the Bender-Gestalt and other tests indicated the likely presence of significantly more brain damage than among the hearing population with a particularly high correlation between low IQ and brain damage in the deaf population. (DB)

The study evaluated the prevalence of stuttering in the current hearing-impaired school age population through a survey of 77 schools for the hearing impaired. Results indicated that the prevalence of stuttering in this population is 0.12 percent and that manual disfluency is perceived to be more prevalent than oral disfluency. (Author/DB)

The applicability of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders III" diagnostic criteria for "Major Depressive Episode" within a population of persons with mild and moderate mental retardation was validated by reviewing reports of severe depression among these individuals. (Author/DB)

The article discusses the uses of mechanical vibration for stimulating, rewarding, and suppressing behaviors of multiply handicapped blind children. Suggestions for further research and refinement of the techniques are made. (Author)

The mercury switch is a simple device which allows severely handicapped students to easily turn on or off electrical devices. Directions and diagrams are given for construction of the switch, its uses, modification of toys to utilize the switch, and correcting problems with the switch or other adaptive equipment. (DB)

Six hospitalized mentally retarded-behaviorally disordered children were instructed in three feeding skills through praise, time-out, and behavioral rehearsal. Results indicated positive behavior change in training sessions and in immediately succeeding sessions during which training was withheld. (Author/CL)

Research conducted in an institutional living environment during times when program activities were minimal and clients were typically inactive showed that empirically based toy selection, construction, and modification, and environmental engineering to ensure convenient and constant material availability increased Ss' active engagement with toys.…

Three studies on B. Le Gay Brereton's approach with severely motorically or multiply disabled preschool children are reported. The program focuses on play and suggests that development should be repeated from the point at which it went wrong. Results included small but statistical changes in cognitive skills. (CL)

Three approaches demonstrated the usefulness of visual feedback and auditory feedback to improve the on-task behavior and academic productivity of deaf multihandicapped adolescents. The approaches feature inexpensive portable equipment that do not require lengthy teacher training. (CL)

Two teachers were taught positioning and handling techniques using written task analyses, demonstrations by an occupational therapist, verbal and modeling prompts, corrective feedback, and praise. Training took place in the natural school environment, during school hours, and with students that the teachers taught. A functional relationship…

Five adolescents with moderate to severe mental retardation, including one with hearing impairments and blindness, were taught 12 associated work skills through an approach featuring reinforcement for desirable behavior and negative consequences and cueing for undesirable behavior. (CL)

Techniques for training a severely retarded blind client to exit his living unit during a fire drill used a combination of negative and positive reinforcement. Following a shaping procedure, the client learned to leave his living unit from any internal point through generalization training and subsequent test probes. (Author/CL)

A program was adapted to serve hearing impaired children with emotional and behavior disorders. The residential program currently serves 10 students with a treatment staff that includes therapists and educators. (CL)

The bibliography presents 47 references for parents of visually disabled preschoolers and 33 references for professionals. Citations include information on title and author, audience, disability focus (blind, low vision, deaf blind, and multidisabled), and a brief description. (CL)

Parents of a multiply handicapped young adolescent speak to a counselor about an upcoming hearing considering their child's possible transfer to public school from a residential school where he has spent several years. The boy himself also discloses his anxiety and uncertainty. (CL)