Responds to Miguel, Forness, and Kavale, who argued that the social skills deficits typically found in children with learning disabilities are largely due to the comorbidity of learning disabilities with psychiatric disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depressive disorder. This review finds this relationship for LD…

A study involving 494 twins with a reading disability (RD) and 373 typical twins found that individuals with RD were more likely to meet criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and that the association between RD and ADHD was stronger for symptoms of inattention than for hyperactivity symptoms. (Contains extensive references.)…

A study involving 113 children (ages 24-37 months) with hearing impairments found expressive vocabulary was related to the child's age, the age of identification of the child's hearing loss (before or after 6 months), the child's cognitive quotient, and the presence or absence of one or more additional disabilities. (Contains extensive…

A study investigated the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 86 adults with severe mental retardation. Using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 15% of the sample met the diagnostic criteria. This measure was not influenced by chronological age, adaptive age, IQ, or gender. (Author/CR)

A portable control device linked via radio to acoustic sources was used for prompting independent travel and activity in two adolescents with severe multiple disabilities. The device allowed the subjects to enter activity destinations with a simple, standard response, which activated acoustic sources that indicated the way to each destination.…

This study applied functional behavioral analysis to the destructive behaviors of two young boys with multiple disabilities including behavior disorders. Results suggested that the subjects' destructive behaviors were sensitive to both escape and attention as reinforcers. Results support the importance of establishing operations in determining the…

Results of a study indicate that of 37 students who met the criteria for hyperactivity-impulsivity-inattention and conduct problems in third grade, 13 continued to meet the criteria in fifth grade. Students who remained stable, who improved, or who became worse differed significantly on key risk and protective variables. (Contains references.)…

A study investigated the use of functional assessment for the transition difficulties of an 11-year-old girl with multiple disabilities who engaged in flopping to the ground during transitions. Assessment information led to the scheduling of a period for interaction immediately following problematic transitions and resulted in reduced rates of…

Analysis of the effects of a short break contingent on completed work with a 10-year-old boy with autism and profound mental retardation found the 20-second break increased responding more than a positive reinforcer did, and the reinforcing effects of a 20-second break were affected by the availability of positive reinforcers during the break. (DB)

Children with laryngeal pathologies or alterations in laryngeal structure and/or function often present with complex medical profiles. This article presents case studies for the speech-language pathologist that provide information regarding management decisions and specific treatment options. (Author/DB)

A national agenda for the education of children and youth with visual impairments has been developed by eight national organizations. Agenda goals focus on referrals, parent participation, personnel preparation, provision of educational services, array of services, assessments, access to instructional materials, and the core curriculum. The…

A study examined the use of multiple microswitches to enhance different responses and environmental control with two boys (ages 9-13) with multiple disabilities. Data showed that both boys learned to respond to the individual microswitches. The simultaneous availability of two or three microswitches promoted high levels of cumulative responding.…

CHARGE association-syndrome refers to a group of congenital anomalies occurring together more often than chance. Parents of children with CHARGE were surveyed and asked to indicate whether their child had various features commonly found among individuals with CHARGE (e.g., vision or hearing impairment) and to complete an adaptive behavior scale…

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to use single-subject research methods, combined with social validation procedures, as part of an evaluation/intervention process exploring the effects of adapted switch-operated devices on self-initiated behaviors of a 6-year-old child with profound multiple disabilities. Method: A…

Understanding the criteria and process for determining a student's eligibility for special education services is critical for any educator in an inclusive school environment. Based on the current reauthorization of IDEA 2004, this timely resource offers teachers and administrators an overview of each eligible disability and clear, specific…