A comparison study involving 50 second-through-fifth graders was designed to analyze the relationships between the incidence of visual abnormalities and high and low academic achievement. Data suggested that children with deficient visual skills may experience greater problems academically. (SBH)

Learning disabled and nondisabled children (in grades 3 through 5) were videotaped while being administered a standardized interview by a young adult female. In general, it was found that observers judged learning disabled children more harshly than nondisabled youngsters. (Author)

The Test of Language Development was administered to a purposive sample of early elementary learning disabled students in an effort to analyze their language performance. Statistically significant differences were indexed between receptive and expressive language skills for this sample. (Author)

The Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT) scores of 98 high-risk kindergarten children were correlated with their scores on the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI). It was concluded that the predictive validity of the SIT was very low. (Author/CTM)

The author summarizes the contributions which aesthetic or arts education can make, both to academic competence and personal creativity, for learning disabled students. Vignettes illustrate the potential of various art forms, including manual arts, music, dance, drama, and filmmaking. (SBH)

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)

Findings from two studies of the relationship of writing to the integration of motor/kinesthetic and visual/perceptual concepts were used to develop a diagnostic screening measurement for writing disability. (PHR)

Results indicated that males obtained higher scores on the verbal subtests. Females scored significantly higher on coding than did their counterparts. The verbal v performance IQ dichotomy did not appear as useful evidence in the diagnosis of learning disabilities. (Author)

Describes two drama programs designed for children with specific learning disabilities and based on the needs of these children to achieve and develop a positive self-image. (JMF)

The article addresses issues in minimal competency testing for physically handicapped and learning disabled students. Adapting the competency test to the needs of the handicapped students, relating minimal standards to the individualized education program (IEP), and adopting different criteria for graduation are three options considered. (CL)

A meta-analysis, the application of statistical methods to findings from a large collection of individual studies, is reported for the literature assessing the effectiveness of psycholinguistic training using the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (ITPA) as the criterion measure. (Author)

The results indicated that ear occlusion improved performance in the majority of Ss and that unilateral occlusion effectively eliminated the auditory figure-ground disorder in most Ss. (Author)

The Visual Aural Digit Span Test (VADS Test), developed and standardized as a diagnostic test for learning disabilities in kindergarten to sixth grade, was adopted for use with seventh graders. An investigation of the relationship between the VADS Test scores and reading achievement showed the validity of the test for middle school pupils. (Author)

A direct assessment analyzes the task to be learned in such a way that the steps required to learn the skills are specified and the child's level within the task is determined. This assessment takes into consideration that the child's immediate environment can make a difference in performance. (Author/SBH)

Compared to 35 mothers of normal achievers, 35 mothers of learning disabled (LD) children exhibited a pattern of more controlling, but less hostile child rearing attitudes on the Parental Attitude Research Instrument. (Author) A p