The article describes an observational playroom procedure (Structured Observation of Academic and Play Settings) used for evaluating symptomatic behaviors of hyperactive boys in the clinic setting. Case studies are presented to illustrate the differing pattern of playroom behavior in boys with different types of externalizing disorders. (Author/DB)

This paper offers guidelines to compare the characteristics observed in children with autism and blindness and those observed in children with blindness alone. It distinguishes between stereotypic behaviors (blindisms) in blind individuals and similar stereotypic behaviors of children with autism. A table presents typical behavior patterns of…

The Autism Behavior Checklist was evaluated with 94 autistic and 63 nonautistic subjects. Although the two groups differed significantly in ratings of pathology both false positive and false negative diagnostic classifications occurred. The test appears to have merit as a screening instrument but should not be used alone to establish a diagnosis…

Individuals with developmental disability (n=400) were assessed with the "Dyskinesia Identification System: Condensed User Scale" (DISCUS), a 15-item tardive dyskinesia rating scale shortened from the "Dyskinesia Identification System-Coldwater." Based on interrater reliability, 2-week stability, and other analyses, DISCUS is…

The booklet provides background information on the diagnosis and characteristics of autism. A chart portrays the signs and symptoms, followed by the definition of the syndrome by the National Society For Children and Adults with Autism. Associated features are noted along with information on age of onset, etiology, incidence and sex ratio,…

The rationale for using a behavioral assessment approach in the evaluation of hyperactivity is explained, and the various procedures for behaviorally assessing hyperactivity are reviewed. Guidelines and resources are also suggested for the practitioner to use in behavioral assessment of hyperactivity. (SW)

The article proposes a strategy for the assessment of young children with handicaps in which brief clinical sampling is used to document developmental skills. This information may then be used in designing intervention programs. Principles and techniques of brief clinical sampling are described and application examples are given. (Author/DB)

This review examines signs indicating a child is reacting to a former traumatogenic event. Posttraumatic stress disorder, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-III, Revised, can result when children are refugees, children of war, immigrants, migrants from a different environment, or when children have experienced a major trauma.…

This self-instructional module is intended to provide basic information on autism and can be used alone or with supplementary videos. The module is divided into short sections, with each section including review questions and with a self-test (and answer key) on the whole module. After introductory material on the module's purpose and use and an…

Offers guidelines to teachers for identifying depression in students with mental retardation. Discusses prevalence and symptoms of depression, causes of depression, difficulty of diagnosis in students with mental retardation, detecting symptoms in the classroom, treatment of depression, and psychological services. Inserts list ideas for helping…

This newsletter issue presents five articles addressing intervention with infants and toddlers having pervasive developmental disabilities. The first article is by Stanley I. Greenspan and is titled "Reconsidering the Diagnosis and Treatment of Very Young Children with Autistic Spectrum or Pervasive Developmental Disorder." This article…

This book is intended as an eclectic review and overview of what is known about autism, emphasizing clinical, rather than theoretical, aspects of the syndrome. Eleven chapters address the following topics: (1) definition of autism (myths, definitions, and facts about autism); (2) diagnosis of autism (medical versus educational diagnosis); (3)…

This guide provides a review of the characteristics of children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or possible prenatal alcohol-related effects (PPAE) and describes specific intervention strategies. Section 1 offers a general review of the diagnostic procedures, the prevalence of FAS and the physical, educational, and behavioral characteristics of…