This article examines the value of a comprehensive, whole-person psychodiagnostic evaluation for identification of reading disabilities. It outlines the linear-maze concept of differential diagnosis of learning problems; suggests testing for organismic integrity through investigation of information processing modes, learning style, and emotional…

Discussed are case studies of four early childhood special education programs, selected to represent a variety of approaches to early childhood special education decision-making and a variety of settings. The case studies focus on issues in diagnostic assessment and are used as the basis for assessment guidelines. (Author/MSE)

This paper presents a case study that used an interdisciplinary diagnostic approach to determine whether a hearing-impaired nine-year-old child had a learning disability and to determine the type of disability. The assessment included medical examination, gross and fine motor skills, psychological functioning, mental processing and achievement,…

This paper presents a cognitive style termed "dysfluency-fluency," illustrates the style with two case studies, and contrasts the dysfluent cognitive style with specific reading disability. Assessment procedures are outlined, and a rationale for considering dysfluency-fluency as a style distinguished from reflectivity-impulsivity is…

Case studies are presented for 4 gifted learning-disabled students, ages 8-16. The students received a multidisciplinary assessment which indicated that psychometric test scores need to be supplemented with informal assessments; historical data; direct student observation; task analysis of permanent products; and information from parents,…

Eight children (ages 13 days to 5 years) with a diagnosis of Cornelia de Lange syndrome received audiologic evaluation consisting of immittance audiometry and auditory brainstem response audiometry to air and bone conducted "click" stimuli, as behavioral testing was unreliable due to patient age and/or developmental delay. Developmental…

Detailed qualitative case studies of four early childhood special education programs, representing a variety of approaches to decision making as well as different community settings (urban, suburban, and rural), present information regarding their diagnostic assessment procedures. In general, programs reported that the main objective of diagnostic…

This case study describes a criterion-referenced method of assessing the speech and language of a young child who speaks an uncommon or unfamiliar English dialect. The method, Parent Child Comparative Analysis, involves administering an identical test battery to parent and child and interpreting the child's performance in relation to the parent's.…

Special education professionals in Illinois were surveyed regarding case study procedures for use with mentally retarded students, rating usefulness of procedure, modifications desired for use with different age groups and severity of retardation, and what professional should hold primary responsibility for component completion. Processes rated…

This report summarizes the Early Childhood Assessment Project, which attempted to clarify issues confronting policy makers in early childhood special education through documentation of current practices, in-depth investigation of alternative approaches, and examination of predicted social, political, economic, and educational impact of alternative…