The process of psychiatric diagnosis has recently undergone major revision with the appearance of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual III (DSM III). The article examines the new system of multiaxial diagnoses in relation to existing special education categories. (Author)

Focuses on social maladjustment exclusion in serious emotional disturbance criteria in Public Law 94-142, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Responds to earlier articles by Skiba and Grizzle in reaction to Slenovich's book, "PL 94-142 as Applied to DSM III Diagnoses" and Slenovich's response to articles. Addresses two aspects of debate…

Critically evaluates recent research aimed at empirical identification of homogeneous subtypes of learning disability. It is suggested that researchers strive for more commonality in the methods and measures used for subtype analysis leading to a single classification scheme to reduce heterogeneity and improve educational efforts. (Author/DB)

Notes that, more so than any other category of special education, children with serious emotional disturbance remain very much underidentified in schools and that both terminology and definition of serious emotional disturbance (SED) under current provisions of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are at least partly responsible for this…

This article critically analyzes available definitions of learning disability. The general problem of definition is discussed first, followed by a discussion of individual definitions from the earliest to the latest. It is concluded that the definitions fail to provide substantive insight into the nature of the condition. (Contains extensive…

The implications of noncategorical approaches toward exceptional children are explored as they relate to learning disabled children. (BA)

This article addresses the advantages, disadvantages, and possible solutions to increased administrative problems posed by five proposed new categories of behavioral disorders: (1) attention deficit disorder, (2) traumatic brain injury, (3) fetal alcohol syndrome, (4) prenatal substance abuse, and (5) fragile X syndrome. (DB)

Describes five disorders (attention deficit disorder, traumatic brain injury, fetal alcohol syndrome, prenatal substance abuse, and fragile X syndrome) that are part of a proliferation of categories of behavioral disorders, examining how special and general education might approach problems potentially inherent in the process of including students…