A procedure to effectively and efficiently train moderately and severely retarded individuals to make fine visual discriminations is described. Results suggest that expectancies for such individuals are in need of examination. Implications for sheltered workshops, work activity centers and classrooms are discussed. [This article appeared…

A study involving deaf and hearing children investigated the perceptual abilities of deaf children employing tasks with both simultaneously and sequentially presented stimulus material. A series of motion picture tests, mostly involving abstract geometric figures, suggested that deaf and hearing children are comparable on visual memory tasks and…

Scores of 25 learning disabled students (aged 9 to 13) were compared on five tests: a visual-perceptual test (Coloured Progressive Matrices); an auditory-perceptual test (Auditory Motor Placement); a listening and reading comprehension test (Durrell Listening-Reading Series); and a word recognition test (Word Recognition subtest, Diagnostic…

Results showed that both groups had a preferred dimension for size over pattern. When size and patterns were combined, the Down's syndrome Ss were confused by the two dimensions, showing preference for one or the other. (Author/DLS)

Factors such as gestational age and birthweight were compared in a follow-up study of 66 neonates with diarrhea and two groups of infants--one with low birthweight, one with optimal birthweight. Among findings was that low birthweight was found to correlate with low test scores on visual perception regardless of whether the infants had had…

Visual perceptual abilities of 47 institutionalized trainable retarded Ss (mean age 20 years) were compared on selected measures of visual perception. (Author/PHR)

The results suggested that profoundly retarded children do show habituation and dishabituation to visual stimuli and are actively storing and processing information about their perceptual world. (Author/DLS)

Data from a study of spatial representation in blind children were subjected to two stepwise regression analyses to determine the relationships between several subject related variables and responses to "map" (cognitive map) and "route" (sequential memory) questions about the position of furniture in a recently explored room. (Author/SBH)

Twenty-two third-grade good and poor readers were tested for their ability to name pictures while trying to ignore words or nonword strings of letters printed inside the pictures. Both groups experienced more interference from intracategory than extracategory words, indicating that they processed the words automatically. Only the good readers…

In the article the author refutes J. Fletcher and P. Satz's analysis of the etiology of reading disability on logical, theoretical, and empirical grounds. (Author/PHR)

In the rejoinder the authors describe the methodological and interpretive factors in the Vellutino et al, experiments which limited the degree to which the studies refuted perceptual deficit hypotheses of reading disability. Note: for more of the interchange see EC 114 687-688. (Author/PHR)

A study involving 120 second-grade students with deficiencies in visual perceptual skills was designed to determine the effects of a vision training program on reading test performance. Students receiving vision training did significantly better in tests measuring reading comprehension and word recognition skills than did students who did not…

The results showed that accuracy depended on both stimulus complexity, modality, and mental age, regardless of whether or not the Ss were retarded. The selection of haptic search styles also depended on these factors but, in addition, was influenced by the intellectual status of the children. (Author/DLS)

A study involving eight youths and adults with retinitis pigmentosa (and only 20 degree visual field and hearing loss of at least 20 decibels) determined variance in the ability to perceive and comprehend visual stimuli presented by way of the manual modality when modifications were made in configuration, movement speed, movement size, and…

Among the findings were that there was no significant difference in performance between Down's syndrome, other mentally handicapped, and normal Ss matched for mental age, when extraneous developmental factors were eliminated; and that there was no relationship between mental age and visual perception in any group. (DLS)