The research concerning three major types of measures designed to identify young children at risk of experiencing school problems is reviewed. Teacher perception, test batteries, and single instruments are discussed in terms of general considerations for use, advantages, and disadvantages. (Author/DB)

This article (1) defines areas in infant and preschool evaluation where clinical judgment is typically used; (2) argues that judgment-based assessments are only as good as the objectivity, reliability, and validity of its data collection and use; and (3) offers examples of procedures and clinical methods to increase diagnostic accuracy. (Author/DB)

The article describes the problem of assessing culturally diverse students for behavior disorders, proposes a solution which replaces norm referenced assessment with functional assessment, and offers recommendations for implementing such a nonbiased, functional approach. (DB)

Difficulties in the differential diagnosis of mental retardation and infantile autism in the preschool child are discussed, and essential components in the assessment of preschool children with behavioral, developmental, or cognitive deviations are identified. (Author/DB)

The variety of methods available for the assessment of hyperactivity in preschool populations is reviewed. Specific procedures for assessment are presented from a multidisciplinary perspective, integrating biophysical, behavioral, cognitive, and ecological models. (Author/JDD)

This paper reviews the role and practice of functional-status assessment in young children with neurological impairments, examines issues in selection of functional assessment measures, and describes functional assessment approaches developed in the fields of special education and pediatric rehabilitation, including adaptive scales,…

The paper presents a rationale for and a discussion of the Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Mental Retardation's Board of Directors' position on assessment and identification in mental retardation, especially mild retardation. The historical foundations of identification and assessment, current practices, recommended practices, legal…

Features useful in distinguishing 20 children with clinically diagnosed pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) from 40 children with autism or language disorder were developed from a retrospective chart review using 80 items. The most useful items were then evaluated using a second set of cases (total n=120). Fewer items discriminated PDD from…

This article shows the usefulness of understanding visual behaviors in the diagnosis of various types of visual impairments that are due to ocular and cortical disorders. Behaviors discussed include nystagmus, ocular motor dyspraxia, head position, close viewing, field loss adaptations, mannerisms, photophobia, and abnormal color perception. (JDD)

A model for conceptualizing the identification process based on a broad view of the nature of learning disabilities is presented. Four decision-making points in the identification process are highlighted with emphasis on the role of team members at each of the four points. (Author/DB)

An assessment procedure is described which employed television in the clinical evaluation of an unintelligible preschool child referred for speech-language evaluation. The preschooler's familiarity with and interest in television enabled the clinician to elicit an extended sample of clinical communication and linguistic skills from an otherwise…

An articulation screening procedure that considered the phonological content of the child's error was compared to a procedure that treated all errors as equally important with 333 preschool children. Predicting eventual therapy placement was more accurate when only selected errors were used. (Author/DB)

This tutorial paper examines the potential of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) in diagnostic audiology. It discusses classification of OAEs, basic properties of various types of OAEs, and clinical applications. It concludes that both transiently evoked and distortion product OAEs have beneficial clinical application resulting from their objectivity,…

This research review on parents' role in identifying their young children's disabilities through screening and assessment focuses on the relationship between parent report and the child's tested performance, variables that may affect parent-professional agreement, the effect of such disagreement on the usefulness of parent reports, and how and…

Appropriate identification/assessment of limited English speaking students requires: (1) the use of both standardized and nonstandardized assessment instruments and techniques, and (2) the use of speech-language pathologists or interpreters who are proficient in the students' native language. (JDD)