Purpose: No diagnostic tools exist for identifying social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SPCD), a new "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition" category for individuals with social communication deficits but not the repetitive, restricted behaviors and interests (RRBIs) that would qualify them for a…

The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers Revised-Albanian screener (M-CHAT-R-A) was used to screen 2,594 toddlers, aged 16-30 months, at well-child visits. Two hundred fifty-three (9.75%) screened positive; follow up on failed items were conducted by phone with 127 (50%); the remainder were lost to follow-up. Twenty-six toddlers (21%)…

The current study examined the screening and evaluation of 2,594 toddlers between 16 and 36 months of age for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to determine the clinical utility of Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Albanian version(M-CHAT-R-A). Of these children, 253 (9.75%) toddlers screened positive on the initial screening at pediatric…

Prior research suggests that parenting affects children's relationships, including those with teachers, although there is variation across individuals in such effects. Given evidence suggesting that oxytocin may be particularly important for the quality of social relationships, we tested the hypotheses (a) that change in parenting from 4 to 6…

The years from 3 to 6 are a time when children develop fundamental movement skills that are the building blocks for the functional movements they use throughout their lives. By 6 years of age, a typically developing child will have in place a full range of movement skills, including, running, jumping, hopping, skipping, climbing, throwing,…

Early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has significant impact on children and families. Early intervention optimizes long-term diagnosis for children with ASD. Unfortunately, many children with ASD are not diagnosed until after age three and often receive services from a local school district rather than through early…

Many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) struggle with reading comprehension. Linguistic comprehension is an important predictor of reading comprehension, especially as children progress through elementary school and later grades. Yet, there is a dearth of research examining longitudinal relations between linguistic comprehensions in…

Background: Longitudinal research studies have demonstrated that experienced clinicians using standardized assessment measures can make a reliable diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in children under age 3. Limited data are available regarding the sensitivity and specificity of these measures in community settings. The aims of this…

Two studies tested hypotheses about the distinctive psychological consequences of children's patterns of responding to interparental conflict. In Study 1, 174 preschool children (M = 4.0 years) and their mothers participated in a cross-sectional design. In Study 2, 243 preschool children (M = 4.6 years) and their parents participated in 2 annual…

Infants 12 months of age or older who have a severe to profound hearing loss frequently receive cochlear implants. Given the inherent challenges of assessing children of this age, this study aims to determine how Listening and Spoken Language Specialists Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapists (LSLS Cert. AVT™) gauge the progress of very young…

Assessment and identification of children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) is complex and involves multiple techniques, levels, and participants. While federal law sets the general parameters for identification in school settings, these criteria are vague and may lead to inconsistencies in selection and interpretation of assessment…

Preparing early childhood education (ECE) and early childhood special education (ECSE) professionals to work with young children with and without disabilities entails the acquisition of content, its application, and opportunities for reflection. This article describes a component of an ECSE assessment course focusing on the logistics and process…

Designed to aid in Chapter 1 evaluation efforts, this bibliography provides information about types of tests and other measures designed to assess young children. Bibliographic summaries were based on information from publishers' manuals and scholarly reviews. Criteria for including a test in the bibliography were that the test: (1) was designed…

This technical assistance paper presents information designed to assist school personnel in assessing the strengths and needs of children and planning developmentally appropriate curriculum strategies. The first topic addressed is assessment strategies, which include developmental screening, diagnostic instruments, teacher observation, parent…

Three assessment instruments for disturbed children were developed: a 50-item behavior checklist which functioned as a screening device; a 124-item behavior rating scale which provided frequency measures on indices of the teacher's reaction and response to exhibited behaviors; and a behavioral observation form which recorded task-oriented behavior…