A revised concept of multimodality, multisensory instruction which minimizes the visual modality is suggested to deal primarily with the severe spelling difficulties of the dyslexic and of others with a similar language problem. (Author/SW)

The author defines and describes tactile defensiveness, provides information to assist the special educator in recognizing and coping with the syndrome, and addresses the unique behavioral problems and academic performances characteristic of learning disabled students. (SB)

The effect of auditory interference on the processing of haptic information by 61 visually impaired students (8 to 20 years old) was the focus of the research described in this article. It was assumed that as the auditory interference approximated the verbalized activity of the haptic task, accuracy of recall would decline. (Author)

Infants ranging from 6 to 12 months were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) allowed to look at a specified object, (2) allowed to look at and manipulate it, or (3) allowed to look at the object and to manipulate the transparent box in which it was encased. (JMB)

The age of onset for tactual exploration of the fingers, body (torso), knee, foot, and penis by the fingers was determined in 100 normal infants. Journal availability: see EC 113 765. (Author)

This article suggests ways to use tactile teaching strategies with students who have severe and multiple disabilities including blindness. Guidelines address tactile modeling, tactile mutual attention, presenting tactile information, providing effective tactile representation, hypersensitivity to touch, and a team approach. (Contains references.)…

Examines the ability to differentiate appearance-reality and Level Two perspective-taking in tactile modality among a total of 92 children aged two-four years in three studies. The results indicate that three-year-olds find tactile appearance-reality and Level Two perspective-taking tasks easier than visual ones. (RJC)

A course in non-visual art offered as part of a general education requirement has both blind and blindfolded students exploring aspects of art, primarily tactile and auditory, usually de-emphasized in art education. (MSE)

Kinnealey reports on a study comparing tactile functions of 30 learning-disabled and 30 normal eight-year-olds as measured by the Southern California Sensory Integration Tests and the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery. Reliability and validity of the two measures were examined. Results showed a significant difference between the tactile…

Six teenagers with visual impairments were given a guided tour of an historic site in Belgium and then questioned concerning their spatial representation of the site and remembered information. Analysis revealed that orally presented information did not compensate for visual cues. Findings led to development of a scale model of the site adapted…

Explored in 2 studies 3- and 4-year-olds' understanding that the 5 senses can each lead to different types of knowledge. Found that 3-year-olds performed significantly poorer than 4-year-olds on all tasks, suggesting a marked transition in children's ability to recognize the origin of their modality-specific knowledge between 3 and 4 years.…

This study evaluated variables that determined the safety of 15 cane users who were using the touch technique. The results showed that none of the walkers used a touch technique as described and recommended in the literature, that the detection of obstacles was related mainly to the height of the cane tip during the sweep, and that the early…

Physical guidance and tactile modeling, coupled with explanation, are effective methods of improving the motor skills and physical activities of students who are blind (O'Connell, 2000). It is important that students with visual impairment are given the option to use one or the other method with each new skill, since they may have a preference for…

Infants of 12 months were tactually familiarized with either a hard or an elastic substance. Subjects subsequently were shown films of objects moving in patterns characteristic of either hard or elastic objects, and their eye movements were detected. Results suggested that quite young infants detect intermodel invariants specifying some substances…

Research on object exploration by infants addresses milestones in the process by normally developing infants, including spontaneous manipulation strategies. Implications for developmentalists working with high-risk preterm infants are noted, including the need for direct assistance in manipulation and for selection of materials. (CL)