Studies 45 low-medical-risk preterm infants and 23 healthy term neonates, revealing that preterms are more wakeful but not more visually responsive than full-term infants. Intrameasure correlations suggest that the organization of wakefulness and visual responsiveness is different in full-term neonates and in preterms at expected date of birth.…

The paper discusses the need for research-based assessment and curriculum for early intervention with visually impaired infants, pointing out research findings from various disciplines relating to brain damage, intervention, drug therapy, visual assessment, neurodevelopmental facilitation techniques, and sensory development. (CL)

Response blocking, differential reinforcement for the omission of behavior (DRO), and a cuing technique were used with a profoundly retarded deaf/blind boy to reduce his stereotypic behaviors. Treatment was used for three high rate stereotypic behaviors and was found to be effective with each. (Author/CL)

Evaluation of Play Unit for the Severely Handicaped (PUSH) designed for the living room of a residential area used by 16 severely retarded multiply handicapped persons revealed that the impact of the unit was individualized and diverse, and that the responsiveness of the environemt's components appeared to be important. (CL)

The early stimulation program provided for low-birth-weight, disadvantaged infants was shown to be effective in promoting behavioral development. (Authors)

Reports a cross-sectional study examining intensity of stimulation and verbal stimulation in home circumstances as these factors relate to psychological development across several age groups (7th, 11th, 15th, or 22nd month of life). (WY)

Examines the effect of three years of structural therapy on inpatient cases of early childhood autism (ECA). Treatment resulted in the discharge of 12 patients. Results indicate that high stimulation, physically intrusive, gamelike, novelty filled, and developmentally oriented treatment of structural therapy can produce significant improvement in…

Three relatively long-term observational studies, involving seven retarded preschool children, each of whom exhibited multiple stereotypes, were conducted to determine the extent to which the type of activity or setting had any effect upon the rates of stereotyped movements. (Author)

The use of a trained paraprofessional in a response reduction procedure with a self-stimulating severely/multiply disabled 12 year old resulted in a decrease in self-stimulation and an increase in socially relevant behavior. (CL)

To test the hypothesis that early intervention can enhance the development of high risk preterm infants, a prescribed multimodal sensory enrichment program, within a regional neonatal intensive care unit, was designed and implemented with 28 preterm infants. Journal Availability: American Academy of Pediatrics, P.O. Box 1034, Evanston, IL 60204…

Three types of vestibular activities (active, adaptive, and passively imposed) to improve auditory discrimination development are described and results of a study using the vestibular stimulation techniques with 20 Ss (average age 9) having abnormal auditory discrimination. (PHR)

Describes research conducted at the University of Texas that designed, programed, tested, and evaluted three CAI (computer-assisted instruction) modules for stimulating rhetorical invention within the freshman English composition setting. Experimental procedures, findings, and implications are discussed. (Author/JD)