This study compared parent and teacher perceptions of academic performance and cognitive deficits with the standardized test performance of 19 students (ages 7-13) with hearing impairments. Results indicate that parents and educators were equally skilled in predicting academic performance, but had greater difficulty predicting specific cognitive…

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD ADHD) is a labeled neurologically based disorder. This article introduces this disorder, as well as other academic skills disorders. It then discusses the myths and facts about ADD ADHD and presents a clinical algorithm for diagnosis and evaluation of a child with this disorder. Next, recommendations…

The terminology and identification phase of a project on minimal brain dysfunction in children is described. Two subsequent phases are to deal with services and research. Included in the first phase are the following: an introduction to the problem, history and blueprint of the project, a brief history of the concept of minimal brain dysfunction,…

Assessing and developing programs for children with a learning disability (LD) has been a complex and confusing task often involving professionals from the domains of health, education, and the social services in addition to the parents. The problems have included trying to agree upon a definition of LD, identifying interdisciplinary variations…

The tests used in the identification of learning disabilitis and the extent of knowledge specialists have regarding the technical aspects of tests were assessed. All groups of specialists tended to overrate the tests they used, and generally indicated a lack of familiarity with the psychometric properties of commonly used tests. (Author/SW)

This paper reviews issues surrounding the use of discrepancy in identifying learning disabilities. Since 1976, it argues, discrepancy has been the primary criterion for defining learning disabilities in practice. In a psychometric and statistical sense, however, issues about the best means for calculating a discrepancy remain problematic. Another…

This package contains the Learning Disabilities Diagnostic Inventory (LDDI) and the LDDI examiner's manual. The LDDI is intended to help identify intrinsic processing disorders in children and adolescents. Items represent specific observable behaviors associated with learning disability (LD) in listening, speaking, reading, writing, mathematics,…

This book discusses the poor self-image of children with learning disabilities, reviews the history of identifying and serving children with learning disabilities, and addresses the need to serve children who are failing in school but do not qualify as having a learning disability. The book emphasizes the role and responsibility of the school for…

Basic neurological facts pertinent to learning disabilities are reviewed, and the nature, significance, and limitations of the neurological assessment presently utilized in clinical practice are addressed. A brief review is presented of some of the classification attempts that highlight difficulties arising from the heterogeneity of learning…

Role of school psychologists in diagnosis of specific learning disability is described. Discusses problems of definition, misidentification, and overidentification and assessment of general intelligence, achievement, perceptual motor coordination, and personality. A model for screening, assessment, and the team evaluation process is discussed, and…

A rationale is presented for the use of neuropsychological knowledge in the better understanding and treatment of the learning disabled child by the school psychologist. Neuropsychological classifications of brain function and behavior are discussed in order to help psychologists recognize those cases appropriate for neuropsychological assessment.…

This article discusses recent findings concerning cognitive outcomes in traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children and adolescents, with a particular focus on age differences with TBI. It suggests a relationship between specific learning disorders and brain dysfunction, addresses differential hemispheric functioning with TBI, and outlines recent…

This study examined the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in special education children (n=581) and children (n=135) referred to a tertiary-care specialty clinic for learning disabilities and ADHD. Prevalence rates varied depending on whether teacher ratings alone, parent ratings alone, or a combination were used.…

This article proposes a developmental approach to the assessment of early mathematics disabilities. It examines major findings concerning children's early mathematical thinking, emphasizing counting and calculation skills. Both normal and atypical development are considered, and guidelines for an assessment procedure are offered. A case vignette…

Two key concepts in diagnosing learning disabilities ("severe discrepancy" and "process dysfunction") are reviewed, and their relationship to the habilitation of learning is discussed. Guidelines are given for calculating a severe discrepancy, and the evaluation of processing skills is discussed. Strength models of remediation…