Sources of variability in identification of children for learning disabilities include teacher bias, peer tolerance, socioeconomic status, and assessment variability. Implications of these variables for research design and sampling are noted. (CL)

The paper reviews the existence and complicating nature of nonverbal learning disorders, noting difficulties faced by such individuals in elementary and secondary school. Problems in identifying these disorders are reviewed. (CL)

Programs to identify young children with special learning needs should incorporate ongoing classroom observation and provide educationally relevant information rather than labels. The early identification procedure used in London (Ontario) for students in kindergarten through grade three uses a school program team to assist the classroom teacher…

The article describes a variation of Usher's Syndrome, a genetic condition characterized by visual and auditory impairments, in which moderate, postlingual, and sometimes progressive hearing impairments may go undetected. Identification guidelines are offered. (Author/CL)

Approaches to identifying, classifying, and placing multiply handicapped hearing impaired students are reviewed, and a model is described in which five factors differentiate among students: instructional objectives, environment, rate, methodology, and staffing. (CL)

The article reviews the origins of the intelligence testing movement in the U.S., discusses the difficulties inherent in measuring intelligence, and considers alternatives to current LD identification procedures. (CL)

Paraprofessionals can be valuable in the education of handicapped students by taking part in assessment and identification, instruction, behavior management, record keeping, parent interaction, career education, and transportation. (CL)

An economical procedure for identifying the dyslexic child is described using a parent questionnaire, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (particularly noting behavioral idiosyncrasies), a brief sentence reading test, a brief spelling test, and lateralty tests. Procedures for synthesizing the evaluation information are considered.…

The article describes the history and resolution of the Lora Litigation (Lora v. Board of Education of the City of New York) and the standards and procedures intended to prevent future discriminatory practices or to detect them as soon as they occur put as forward in the final order. (Author/CL)

An analysis of errors in written language as indicators of communication disorders reviews problems with assumptions that writing and spelling are phonetically based. A six-stage model of written language reduction is proposed that helps to analyze and type errors according to such classifications as neuromuscular, phonographic, and duplication…

Four unresolved issues and research needs in central auditory processing disorders in children are addressed: (1) early identification through screening; (2) relationship between test battery results and auditory behaviors; (3) relationship between test battery results and therapy planning, and (4) new assessment procedures. (Author/CL)

The author reviews methods of studying individuals in context (ecological, phenomenological, and system approaches) and offers suggestions for implementing these approaches in identification, assessment, and intervention procedures for language-disordered children. (CL)

The article presents a schemata for using the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children to develop specific diagnosis and prescriptive programing for reading and learning disabled children. An educational program that focuses on the processing strength to formulate interventions that remediate the deficits through the preferred processing strategies…

A management system is developed to aid the communication disorders specialist in diagnosis, case load selection, and service delivery in Head Start programs. Three priority levels are established that are consistent with the Head Start definition of a communication disorder with Head Start program philosophy. (Author)

This article discusses the accuracy of bone-conduction auditory brainstem response (BC-ABR) tests to determine the presence and severity of conductive hearing impairment. It provides warnings about technical pitfalls and recommends incorporating BC-ABR protocols for routine clinical use. It concludes that the method allows estimating cochlear…