The differential diagnosis of learning disabilities (LD) and emotional or behavioral disorders is complicated by the high incidence of concomitant emotional or behavioral disorders in LD children. (DB)

A special curriculum for learning disabled students incorporates social and emotional components. Case studies illustrate the effectiveness of giving students opportunities to acknowledge their feelings and release energy constructively. Suggested methods for social and emotional skill development are offered. (CL)

The author discusses social and emotional problems common to gifted children who feel "different" and suggests counseling techniques elementary teachers can use to address these problems, build self-concept, promote interpersonal skills, and improve school performance. (SJL)

Research is reviewed on the emotional and social needs of learning disabled students, including difficulties in understanding nonverbal communication, rejection by peers and others, impulsivity, pervasively negative moods, and difficulties in role-taking. Teacher education should increase emphasis on direct instruction of social skills and…

Rational behavior training is a proactive teaching model concerned with helping students with behavior disorders or serious emotional disturbances develop rational thinking and appropriate social skills. Describes a seven-session sequence for teaching rational behavior skills in a middle school setting. Pre- and posttest data revealed significant…

In this study, the authors examined the association between childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety and mood disorders in adolescence. They compared a group of 142 adolescents ages 13 to 18 years with a history of ADHD in childhood to group of 100 community-recruited adolescents without ADHD. The two groups did not…

Exposure to alcohol in utero is considered to be the leading cause of developmental disabilities of known etiology. The most severe consequence of such exposure, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), is characterized by a distinct constellation of characteristic facial anomalies, growth retardation, and central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. Some…

Effects of an intervention and fading package (teacher prompting and contingent praise) on social initiations of three withdrawn preschool subjects were investigated. Among reported results was that abrupt removal of prompting resulted in similarly abrupt reductions in subjects' social initiations, whereas response-dependent fading maintained…

A 15-year follow-up of 50 children initially diagnosed as communicatively impaired is reported. The survey describes Ss in terms of the educational levels they have attained, their motor skills, their social skills as perceived by their families, and any communication problems that may exist. (Author/DB)

This study examined the amount of psychosocial disturbance experienced by adults (n=53) in India with epilepsy, as well as the relationship between psychosocial dysfunction, duration of illness, and computerized axial tomography findings. Results indicated that three-quarters exhibited no or very mild psychosocial dysfunction. (DB)

A review of six journal articles on the psychological and psychosocial development of children with hearing impairments indicates that while all suggest that children are at-risk in their psychological and psychosocial development, the articles must be interpreted with great caution since they are based on small study populations. (Contains…

Teacher ratings of 94 learning disabled and 241 normal girls, grouped as three age levels, on school emotional and behavior problems revealed that personality problem (e.g., anxiety, withdrawal) was the only factor dimension that differentiated LD from non-LD girls, and these differences were not apparent at every age level. (Author/CL)

This study reports on the longitudinal examination of a structured arts program for Canadian youth, aged 9 to 15 years, from low-income communities. Evaluated were the extent to which community-based organizations successfully recruited and retained youth in the program and whether they demonstrated improvement with respect to artistic ability…

A review of 17 of the most current empirical research studies on the pscyhosocial adjustment of maltreated children suggests that, compared to nonabused children, physically abused children manifest a greater number and frequency of behavior problems, have poor peer relationships and social skills, are less socially involved, have less empathy,…

Medical records of 150 patients (randomly assigned to groups in which screening for depression, physician sensitization about depression, and informational feedback to physicians) were reviewed for physician notations about depression and its treatment. Previsit screening devices, it is suggested, may increase physician attention to psychological…