Representatives of a variety of disciplines concerned with either clinical or research problems in vision and learning disabilities present reviews and reports of relevant research and clinical approaches. Contributions are organized into four broad sections: basic processes, specific disorders, diagnosis of visually based problems in learning,…

This is a non-technical report based on the final report of the first year evaluation of the Head Start/Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Collaborative Effort, a demonstration program initiated by the Office of Child Development (OCD)/HEW in 1974. The report presents and analyzes data collected during the first…

The role of a rural university in the delivery of special education services to exceptional children is explained in relation to four categories: academic services, in-service training of special education teachers, consulting services to local education agencies, and clinical assessment of children. Difficulties are described and possible…

A study was conducted to test the utility of a protocol, consisting of 30 pragmatic parameters of language, to evaluate conversational speech from 157 subjects in six diagnostic groups. Four distinct profiles emerged separating the diagnostic groups within which differences in the distribution of pragmatic deficits were identified. (Author/KM)

The article documents relationships between adaptive behavior and social skills. Social competence deficits in mildly handicapped children are classified into four types: skill deficits, performance deficits, self-control skill deficits, and self-control performance deficits. Assessment procedures for classification and intervention purposes are…

Acquired severe communication disorders may result from physical impairment, language impairment, cognitive impairment, or combination of impairments. This paper reviews the demographics and characteristics of communication-disordered adults based on etiology, introduces models of assessment and intervention, highlights intervention strategies and…

Ways to teach three types of interviewing skills are described, including giving information to patients, handling emotions on the part of patients, and motivating patients. The students showed significant increases in their interviewing skills, but did not change significantly in self-assessment of their level of confidence. (Author/MLW)

Describes an evaluation plan and preliminary results for the ATS-6 satellite interactive telecommunication program for teaching basic science and clinical diagnosis at sites remote from an established medical school (University of Washington). This study assesses the technical feasibility, interaction characteristics of the education programs, and…

In this study the strategic constituent approach to organizational effectiveness was applied to a diagnostic program for handicapped children. Supervisors, clinicians, referring school professionals, and parents were interviewed, and resulting data was inductively categorized. A rating scale was designed and completed by internal constituents.…

This report addresses these questions, and includes an analysis of nationally representative cognitive and achievement data to illustrate the dangers in making blanket assumptions about appropriate achievement expectations for individuals based on their cognitive ability or diagnostic label. In addition, a review of research on the achievement…

This digest discusses the most frequently diagnosed mood disorders in children and adolescents, including major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder. The symptoms of these disorders are described, along with family and genetic causal factors, biological causal factors, and cognitive causal factors. The digest then…

This book reviews the current state of research and practice in intervention for children with autism. The 10 chapters are organized into three parts, on the nature of autism, treatment of autism, and possibilities for a cure and recovery from autism. Chapter 1 introduces definitions and characteristics of autism. Chapter 2 considers what it is…

At any one time, between 2 percent and 17 percent of the school-age population in the United States experiences moderate to severe depression. Too often, depression goes unrecognized, damaging self-esteem, ruining academic achievement, and disrupting families. This paper discusses childhood depression and treatment. Following an introduction…

This paper reports the outcomes of a study that utilized descriptive, qualitative methods and a series of case studies to investigate how students are diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders, specifically Asperger syndrome under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The study focuses on students attending elementary schools in…

A review of the research and legal literature summarizes the status of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) under school law. Following a brief introduction, discussion of ADHD as a disability notes the impact of ADHD on overall functioning and provides a table of diagnostic criteria for subtypes of ADHD. The following section focuses…