This study, involving 64 students with specific learning disabilities, found positive correlations between the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III (WISC-III) and the Arithmetic subtest of the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised (WRAT-R), the KeyMath-Revised, and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised, but not between the WISC-III and…

Normally achieving, learning-disabled and mildly retarded students (n=148, ages 6-9) were trained to select the odd picture of a 3-picture array. Mildly retarded subjects showed large, consistent performance differences from the other groups, but learning-disabled subjects could not effectively be distinguished from normally achieving peers.…

The Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities' definition of learning disabilities implies that the presence of social skills deficits alone suffices for diagnosis, even in the absence of academic difficulties. Overlaps between this criterion and eligibility criteria for emotional disturbance are discussed along with implications for…

This paper examines studies of the Minnesota Institute which were interpreted as demonstrating that students with learning disabilities are not distinguishable from other low-achieving students. Results of the reexamination indicate that learning disabilities and low achievement can be clearly differentiated, even in studies indicating that little…

Comparison of scores of 35 third- and fourth-grade students with learning disabilities on 3 major achievement tests found high positive correlations among the reading subtests. Agreement across all 3 tests for learning disability eligibility in the basic reading skills area was found in 20 of 35 cases and 9 of 35 cases in reading comprehension.…

This comparison of regression discrepancy model results for learning disability identification used published IQ-achievement and reliability coefficients and generic, mean values. Use of mean IQ-achievement values resulted in higher discrepancy rates for a clinical sample. Use of both mean IQ-achievement and reliability values resulted in higher…

This paper provides an historical overview of the foreign language learning difficulties of students with learning disabilities; describes a language-based assessment model for diagnosing foreign language learning problems; and discusses the role of diagnosticians, counselors, and academic service providers in the identification, accommodation,…

This critical evaluation of the Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT) determined that the test items are 30 years old, scores are derived from a nonrepresentative norm group, and scores are not interchangeable with other intelligence measures. The paper concludes that the SIT is unsuited for educational decision-making purposes, including screening,…

This article defends research evaluating similarities and differences in psychometric performances of students with learning disabilities (LD) and students with low achievement (LA), which concluded that psychometric test performance alone was an insufficient basis for differential diagnosis. Recent criticism of the research by Kenneth Kavale and…

A review and comparison of two subtypes of dyslexia, phonologic and orthographic, identifies characteristics and assessment concerns and offers two case studies to demonstrate the impact of orthographic dyslexia on the development of literacy skills. The article concludes that the needs of individuals with orthographic dyslexia must not be…

Two analyses are provided to demonstrate that the population of students with learning disabilities is distinct from the population of low-achievers. Reasons for different interpretations of Bob Algozzine and colleagues' research are suggested. Assumptions surrounding the reality of learning disability are explored, as are differing perceptions…

Forty children (ages 9-12) identified as having dyslexia on the basis of intelligence and achievement tests were evaluated. Results imply that a test of phonological sensitivity and another of nonsense word decoding identified children who were dysphonetic. Nondysphonetic disabled readers were older and had higher verbal intelligence quotients…

In this interview, two collaborators in research on teaching foreign languages to learning-disabled students are questioned regarding specific foreign language learning disabilities, possible subtypes, diagnosis, policies of colleges regarding students unable to meet foreign language requirements, and recent research in the field. (PB)

Summarizes recent studies identifying specific linguistic-cognitive markers for reading disabilities and describes efforts to develop measures of these markers in the areas of phonological awareness, rapid automatic naming, and verbal short-term memory. (Author/DB)

Four predictive models offering an ecocultural perspective on the educational and personal-social development of children at risk for learning disabilities and other learning problems are proposed: main effect, additive, multiplicative, and compensatory. Preliminary results favor the compensatory and additive models. Both risk and protective…