In an attempt to provide technically adequate screening with criteria for referring children for further evaluation, the Diagnostic Index (DI) was developed. The DI expresses the relationship between a child's chronological and developmental ages, identifies as a percentage of normal development the discrepancy between age appropriate behaviors…

In this study, 46 normal and 39 developmentally handicapped intermediate-grade students were administered the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement, the Matrix Analogies Test-Short Form, and Draw A Person: A Quantitative Scoring System, in order to probe the utility of the latter two tests in screening for mental retardation. (Author/PB)

Individual child data from the Preschool Screening Programs of 402 Minnesota school districts were analyzed for problem identification and referral rates, areas of problem identification and referral, sex differences in rates, and other factors. The results from over 45,000 children revealed large variability in rates among school districts, as…

The paper provides guidelines for the classroom teacher in making effective referrals for special education services. The three phases of the referral process are delineated: (1) identification of the problem, (2) documentation/intervention, and (3) the activation of screening and staffing teams. Detailed suggestions for conducting the activities…

The impact of four early childhood education screening programs intended to identify handicapped children was evaluated using ecological case study methods. Results suggested that few screening and referral practices influenced screening outcomes in a consistent manner. (Author/DB)

Three techniques were used to identify blind/visually impaired people in Sri Lanka. Utilizing key informants identified the greatest number of blind people in the most efficient manner, compared to utilizing students from local schools and conducting house-to-house surveys. All three methods showed relatively high false positive rates. (Author/JDD)

Comparison of a variety of vision screening methods used with preschool children led to modification of the standard Snellen E test called the Blackbird Vision Screening System. An instructional story using an "E-bird" was developed to teach children the various possible positions of the E. The visual confusion caused by the chart was…

Preschool screening referral rates for developmental problems were examined for 219 Minnesota school districts across 2 school years. The state as a whole was consistent from year 1 to year 2 in terms of the percentage of children referred for screening. However, there was wide variation among individual districts. Three groups of districts were…

This paper examines the controversy over use of impedance screening in public schools to identify students with hearing problems, including otitis media, a common ear condition in infants and young children. It cites research that questions the value of pure tone screening as a single test and raises critics' objections to the use of impedance,…

The research concerning three major types of measures designed to identify young children at risk of experiencing school problems is reviewed. Teacher perception, test batteries, and single instruments are discussed in terms of general considerations for use, advantages, and disadvantages. (Author/DB)

Questionnaire responses from 146 high school cheerleaders indicated that acute, cheering-related dysphonia may be preceded or accompanied by a set of clinical signs that could be incorporated easily into a screening protocol for prospective cheerleaders. (Author/DB)

The document contains a review of the literature on screening for learning disabilities; a report of a Macomb, Illinois, study testing the Myklebust Learning Quotient method of identifying learning disabilities; and guidelines for learning disability eligibility screening in the Macomb schools. In the introduction, characteristics of the learning…

The paper describes the New Jersey Child Find project, a program to locate and identify all unserved handicapped children between the ages of 0 and 21 years. Noted are four project objectives (such as conducting community awareness campaigns), background of the project (including early efforts to identify handicapped children as a result of a…

The Revised Denver Developmental Screening Test and parental reports of developmental concerns were compared for effectiveness in predicting school problems four years after a preschool screening program. Results suggested the test accurately identified only those children later found to have severe learning problems. (Author/DB)

The investigation examining the effect of kindergarten experience on the performance of children on the Bankson Language Screening Test suggested the need for different sets of language test norms for children with and without kindergarten experience. (Author/DB)