This article addresses the continuity from early speech-language delays to later learning problems in school and recommends use of "language organization disorder" to describe the delay. Chronologies of the difficulties and methods for early detection are provided. A table summarizes 11 research studies on early language delays and later reading…

Research in the field of developmental disabilities has found direct links between severity of a personality trait or psychopathology and particular pathology of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). From studies of behavior phenotypes, new psychiatric disorders are being recognized, such as Williams syndrome. The formulation of valid behavior…

A study tested the validity of the Diagnostic Assessment for the Severely Handicapped-II (DASH-II) for determining the presence of mania (bipolar disorder) in 22 individuals with severe mental retardation. Results found the mania subscale to be internally consistent and able to be used to classify manic and control subjects accurately. (Author/CR)

A study compared characteristics of individuals with mild retardation and clinically classified as autistic disorder (n=205), Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS) (n=80), and other non-PDD disorders (n=174). Only a few items from the ICD-10 and DSM-IV discriminated the PDDNOS group from other disorders. Suggested…

The validity of the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (Third Edition) for identification and description of language disorders following brain injury was evaluated in 11 adolescents with traumatic brain injury. In general, the measure identified only those individuals who had previously been diagnosed as language impaired, not those…

This study evaluated the use of the Dyslexia Screening Test (DST) in six primary schools in England with 44 children from 12 classes. Teachers perceived the DST to be useful and necessary. The great majority of teachers indicated that the test's findings were consistent with their expectations from pupils' classroom performance and that they…

A study investigated the effectiveness of a phenotypic checklist for identifying 110 males with fragile X syndrome and 79 controls, matched for age, level of cognitive development, and social adaptation. Results indicated that those boys who are likely to be diagnosed as having fragile X syndrome can be identified. (Contains references.)…

Thirty-four (Study 1) and 37 (Study 2) pairs of three-year-old children with and without mild learning problems were presented with a battery of five or six simple cognitive tasks. Children without learning problems performed at a significantly higher level on 17 of the 18 measures. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Describes the characteristics of an 11-year-old boy who represents the only documented case of an individual with Cornelia de Lange syndrome who also has above average cognitive functioning. Major diagnostic criteria for de Lange syndrome and comparisons with other severe and mild cases are discussed. (Author/CR)

An evaluation was made of the empirical validity of the Diagnostic Assessment for the Severely Handicapped-II (DASH-II) with 51 individuals with severe/profound mental retardation, some of whom were also diagnosed with autism, and controls. The Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorder subscale of the DASH-II was internally consistent and just as…

A study investigated the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 86 adults with severe mental retardation. Using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 15% of the sample met the diagnostic criteria. This measure was not influenced by chronological age, adaptive age, IQ, or gender. (Author/CR)

A review of the literature reporting effects on parents of universal neonatal hearing screening (UNHS) focuses on debates surrounding false positive identification, the evidence base for maternal/parental anxiety, consent, and family cultural/sociodemographic influences on the effective implementation of the UNHS programs, especially the pilot…

This article presents examples of gifted children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and discusses the difficulties in identifying these students. Characteristics of gifted students who have ADHD are listed, the link between creativity and ADHD is examined, and strategies for parents and educators are provided. (Contains…

Two studies are reported demonstrating the reliability, validity, and clinical utility of the Language Development Survey (LDS) as a screening tool for the identification of expressive language delay in toddlers. The LDS test-retest reliability was .97. The LDS also correlated highly with other measures and the LDS identified at-risk group scored…

This article discusses the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III (PPVT-III) and data that indicate children from 4 to 10 years of age are scoring, on average, 10 standard score points higher on the PPVT-III than on the PPVT-Revised. Clinical implications, including the identification of fewer children with the PPVT-III, are explored. (Contains…