Visual-spatial orienting in 10 high-functioning adults with autism was examined. Compared to controls, subjects responded faster to central than to lateral stimuli, and showed a left visual field advantage for stimulus detection only when laterally presented. Abnormalities in attention shifting and coordination of attentional and motor systems are…

Investigated mechanisms underlying reductions in susceptibility to interference from irrelevant information that are evident in the developing child. Used two experiments requiring attention to one stimulus out of many. Found that age changes in selective attention are mediated to an important extent by changes in the speed and efficiency of…

Assesses the relative roles played by men and women in the development of New Zealand English over the past 50 years, with particular attention paid to vowel shifting. Results indicate that women lead in new and dynamic changes, but lag behind men in the use of variables representing older changes. (71 references) (Author/CK)

Examines the relationship of age and two dimensions of self-esteem using a national sample of adults in the United States. Findings indicate that those over age 65 experience heightened levels of self-esteem, especially on self-efficacy, compared to their younger counterparts. Implications for findings are discussed. (RJM)

Covert visual orienting was measured in 13 twelve-year-old and 11 fifteen-year-old hockey players and in 13 college students with no hockey training. Found that high-skill 15-year-olds were better able than all other groups to take advantage of the general alerting effect produced by the sudden onset of a cue. (MDM)

Surveyed 512 elementary and secondary administrators regarding their perceptions of the time spent by school psychologists in 15 role functions and other duties. Results indicate that administrators desired school psychologists to spend less time in assessment and administrative activities than they were perceived to be spending in these areas.…

A study investigated whether two speech measures (peak intraoral air pressure (IOP) and IOP duration) obtained during production of intervocalic stops would be altered by the presence or absence of a cochlear implant in five children (ages 7-10). The auditory condition affected peak IOP more than IOP duration. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Investigates the images of scientists held by Israeli preservice teachers, the majority of whom were female and either Hebrew- or Arabic-speaking. Uses the Draw-a-Scientist-Test (DAST) tool developed to test images of a scientist as perceived by the participants. Discusses different images in the two cultures. Includes recommendations for…

A study investigated the ability of six individuals with mental retardation to focus on task-relevant elements of complex visual arrays and increased visual-search efficiency. Results found participants were able to limit attention to the task-relevant items on a guided search task, thus greatly reducing overall target identification times.…

A study examined whether the benefits of modified speech could be extended to provide intelligibility improvements for eight children (ages 8-14) with severe-to-profound hearing impairments who wear sensory aids and five controls. All varieties of modified speech (envelope-amplified, slowed, and both) yielded either equivalent or poorer…

A study investigated how 19 Finnish adults who were postlingually severely or profoundly hearing impaired would relearn to recognize vowels after receiving multi-channel cochlear implants. Average vowel recognition was 68% 6 months after switch-on, and 80% 24 months after switch-on. Vowels y, e, and o were most difficult. (Contains references.)…

A study investigated how 19 Finnish adults who were postlingually severely or profoundly hearing impaired would relearn to recognize consonants after receiving multi-channel cochlear implants. Two years after the switch-on, the mean recognition for consonants was 71%. Consonants with alveolar, palatal, or velar transitions were better recognized.…

Focuses on elementary school teachers' perceptions of creativity and logic and their places within mathematics education. Explores themes arising from the ways in which creativity and logic were talked about, addressing the extent to which the teachers believed that mathematics was creative or logical and whether these two characteristics were…

The concept of a "picture superiority effect" is discussed. Examined are a number of perceptual considerations that need to be given to picture construction. Parameters which appear to attract the learner's attention to a picture are considered. (CW)

Survey responses of 704 college students revealed that majority had at least 1 grandparent and some had 8 or more. Students identified degree of closeness with closest grandmother and grandfather. Students' perceptions of grandparent and grandchild roles were generally positive, indicating affection and respect for grandparents. Found differences…