A systematic analysis of the references to "scientifically based research" (SBR) and closely related terms, such as "peer-reviewed research" (PRR), in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) legislation, regulations, commentary, and case law reveal that SBR and its primary variants apply largely to state support…

This digest presents definitions of 30 important terms in the field of learning disabilities. They are: accommodations, assistive technology, attention deficit disorder, brain imaging techniques, brain injury, collaboration, developmental aphasia, direct instruction, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyslexia, dysnomia, dyspraxia, learned helplessness,…

The proceedings of the 1980 first National Meeting of Learning Disabled (LD) Adults are presented. Topics focused on the history and current status of the consumer movement among LD adults. The concern of national and local LD groups with problems facing LD adults is traced, and current movements within ACLD (Association for Children and Adults…

Two digit span distraction tasks were used to compare performance of 32 learning disabled (LD) and 32 normal children (mean ages 16 and 15 years). On the first set of tasks, where the neutral and distraction conditions were matched for their ability to discriminate between groups, no differential distraction effect was found. The second task's…

In rebuttal to seven responses to a paper (EC 081 334) on differences between the fields of learning disabilities and reading, the author notes the disagreement among the respondents as to points of overlap and difference, and reaffirms that two fields of study continue to exist. (DB)

After an eight-lesson program in body awareness, learning disabled students demonstrated improvement in self portrait drawings and in the accuracy of body part connections. (CL)

The author addresses the problem of defining the learning disabled population and considers a solution to the dilemma in which different definitions serve different functions. (SBH)

Differences in visual-ocular function, particularly optokinetic nystagmus (OKN), were compared with 40 learning disabled and 40 normal children (8-12 years-old). No significant differences were found between groups on the variables tested (refixation saccades, smooth ocular pursuit, spontaneous nystagmus, gaze nystagmus, and OKN). (Author/DB)

In rebuttal to a critique of a previous paper, the authors stress the complexities of defining the term "learning disabilities" and the inadequacies of Kosc's approach to a prior definition based upon established definitions of "learning" and "disability" (Author/DB)

The position paper of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities provides five criticisms of the definition of learning disabilities developed in 1967 by the National Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children and proposes an alternative definition. (DB)

The study examined cognitive impairment in 21 learning disabled (LD) adults. Results indicated that LD adults consistently overestimated their ability to remember lists of words and that they were especially impaired on a test requiring termination of an exhaustive and thorough search for relevant material. (Author/DB)

Multisensory techniques to remediate reversal problems in learning disabled students are reviewed. (CL)

The Bender Gestalt Test was administered to 25 children (7-10 years old) referred for neuropsychological assessment and scored using the Koppitz system and the Watkins system. Although the scores obtained using the two different sets of criteria were highly correlated, the Watkins rules produced generally better performance. (Author/CL)

Examined the relationship between neuropsychological functioning, learning disability, and violent behavior in prisoners (N=110). Results indicated that (a) violent offenders tend to have serious neuropsychological deficits and that (b) inmates classified as brain damaged had a significantly higher rate of violent criminal activity than did the…