Working with children who have multiple disabilities that include visual impairments can be especially challenging. Many disabling conditions manifest into behavioral difficulties that may take away from learning. Acting out may be a student's way of expressing a lack of healthy coping mechanisms in relation to his or her environment. Implementing…

This study of 182 secondary special education students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders investigated their classification by their school districts, in particular how well they were distinguished and represented by their federal categories. The districts used four classification groups (emotional disturbance, other health impairment…

In this article we review the empirical evidence for the presumptions that children with disabilities are at increased risk for child maltreatment, and parents with disabilities are more likely to perpetrate child abuse and neglect. Challenges to the epidemiological examination of the prevalence of child maltreatment and disabilities are…

Systematic review of 26 studies on language deficits in children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) found 71 percent of EBD children had clinically significant broad-based language deficits including pragmatic, receptive, and expressive deficits. Longitudinal studies suggested that the rate of comorbidity between language deficits and…

This paper reviews the literature showing the frequent co-occurrence of emotional/behavioral and language problems in children. The role of language in emotional/behavioral regulation and social interaction is reviewed and implications for speech-language pathology relative to language assessment, intervention, and counseling are discussed.…

A study examined suicidality in 223 children with developmental disorders (ages 4 to 18) and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Twenty percent experienced either suicidal ideation, threats of, or attempts at suicide, with hanging being most frequently considered. Suicidality was most often encountered in individuals with oppositional defiant…

The 2007/2008 Parents of Children with Severe Special Needs Survey is conducted to obtain opinions from parents of children with severe special needs to assess their satisfaction with key areas of the education system. A random sample of 816 parents of children with severe special needs completed the survey. Severe special needs descriptions…

This paper was developed as a result of a 1999 conference on substance abuse and learning disabilities. An introductory chapter urges early identification of learning disabilities and appropriate treatment for both problems when they co-exist. The second chapter discusses the differences between learning disabilities and behavioral disorders, the…

This article reviews "ADHD with Comorbid Disorders: Clinical Assessment and Management" by Steven R. Pliszka, Caryn L. Carlson, and James M. Swanson, a book that provides information on children displaying both attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and other comorbid psychiatric conditions, complex psychopharmacological interventions that may…

Research on relationships among depression, social withdrawal, reticence, and language disorders in children is reviewed. Methodological issues regarding the assessment of depression and social withdrawal are raised, and alternative assessment procedures are proposed for further research. Implications for intervention are discussed, emphasizing…

Describes behavior change among five behavior-disordered, multiply handicapped primary students exposed to daily play sessions with nonhandicapped children for 10 weeks. Concludes that nonhandicapped children elicited positive social interactions from behavior-disordered playmates, particularly when specific playmates were assigned. Contains 17…

A retrospective chart review was used to examine sexual behaviors and cognitive impairment in 200 youth (ages 5-18) with serious mental illness. Lower IQ was associated with increased sexual acting-out. For more serious victimizing sexual behaviors, only verbal IQ differences were statistically significant. Overall, sexual behavior disorders were…

This book offers a British perspective on ways of conceptualizing, assessing, and intervening in the challenging behavior of people with severe learning disabilities, with emphasis on the types of technical support needed. An introductory chapter explains why the term "learning disability" is used rather than mental handicap, mental…

A retrospective review examined characteristics of 13 families involved in a community-based assessment and treatment program for children and youth with behavioral and emotional disturbance in association with mental retardation. Principles of stress theory and family systems theory are examined and applied to the particular stressors in families…

This book is designed to help clinicians assess and treat children or adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder who also present other disabilities. Major comorbidities are described in depth and empirically grounded guidelines are presented for evaluation and treatment. Part 1 provides an overview of issues in comorbidity,…