Psychometric test performances of two groups of school children were analyzed: 80 fourth graders, 40 of whom had been identified by their school district as learning disabled (LD); and 51 children referred for "possible LD placement" and diagnosed LD or not LD by school district personnel applying a severe discrepancy criteria. Results…

The extent to which identification as learning disabled is a function of the definition used and the extent to which different classifications would result from use of different definitions were examined in a study involving 51 students (6 to 12 years old) referred for psychological evaluation as a result of academic difficulties. The school…

To dispel parents' and educators' confusion about children's learning problems, this article properly defines terms such as slow learner, learning disability, attention deficit disorder, and underachiever. A sidebar categorizes four types of underachievers, who perform better when tightly monitored. (MLH)

Several definitions of learning disabilities are reviewed, and the problem of identifying learning disabilities in a Catholic Elementary School is examined. Described are identification instruments, methods of reporting pupil progress, and followup procedures used in the project. (CL)

Three types of definitions of learning disabilities (LD) (ability-achievement discrepancy, low achievement, and scatter) were examined to determine the extent of common variance within 48 school-identified LD children and 96 nonLD children (all elementary students). Both samples had previously been administered a battery of psychoeducational…

A study involving 48 school-identified learning disabled (LD) and 96 nonLD elementary students investigated the numbers of students identified by three kinds of LD definitions: ability-achievement discrepancy, low achievement, and scatter. Relationships between each definition and actual school classification were also examined. Data from a…

Examined three definitions of learning disabilities (LD), ability-achievement discrepancy, low achievement, and scatter, to determine common variance among 48 LD children and 96 non-LD children. Factor analysis resulted in two distinct groupings of LD students; low achievement accounted for over four times as much variance as ability-achievement…

Assessment batteries of 200 elementary children with learning disabilities were analyzed to identify practices associated with the use of individual intelligence and achievement tests. Among conclusions: Many students identified as SLD have below-average intelligence, do not exhibit discrepancies on the Wechsler scale, and do not have severe…

An operational index of discrepancy between ability and achievement using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and the Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT) was tested with 50 male and 10 female legally identified learning disabled (LD) children (mean age 9 years 2 months). Use of the index identified 74% of the males and 30% of the…

Explicates the principles underlying whole-language theory and practice to reduce misunderstandings and misapplications and to help teachers of students with learning disabilities provide rich literacy learning experiences for their students. (RS)

Intake placement data were collected from the files of 1,966 students labeled and served as learning disabled in Child Service Demonstration Centers (CSDC) in 22 states. There appeared to be a lack of consistency in the characteristics of students labeled learning disabled. (Author)

The study comparing responses of the teachers of learning disabled (LD) seven-year-olds on the Temperament Assessment Battery to those of teachers of non-LD students found that teachers of LD students consistently evidenced perceptions in the negative direction suggesting that social ability, adjustment, and persistence contribute to the…

In an effort to examine the pragmatic effects of definitions of learning disabilities and identification procedures, information was gathered on the characteristics of 53 children (grades 1 through 7) who had been previously diagnosed as learning disabled. Results of tests such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and the Illinois Test…

Two classification procedures for identifying children with reading disabilities were compared, differing in their use of intelligence quotient (IQ). Results indicated that abandoning IQ in classification had a very limited impact on the number of children identified as reading disordered, but that use of IQ resulted in more high-IQ children being…