Guided oral reading fluency instruction is a research-validated strategy for improving reading achievement. This article addresses ways to individualize guided oral reading fluency instruction for students with emotional and behavioral disorders using behavioral principles. In addition, the article explains how to use data to set goals and monitor…

Background: It has been repeatedly found that performance of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is more impaired when a long inter-stimulus interval (ISI) is used than when a short ISI is used. According to the cognitive-energetic model, this may reflect difficulty in remaining in an optimal motor activation state…

Background: Several studies showed a different symptom structure underlying the spectrum of autistic-like disorders from the behaviour triad as mentioned in the DSM-IV. In the present study, a hypothesised symptom model for autism was constructed, based on earlier explorative findings, and was put to a confirmatory test. Method: Items from the…

This study compared attributions for child behavior among mothers of 38 nonproblem boys, 26 boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 25 boys with ADHD and oppositional defiant (OD) behavior. Boys ranged from 7 to 10 years of age. To capture different aspects of mothers' attributions, 2 assessment methods were employed: (a)…

The purpose of the current study was to determine the types of psychiatric disorders and the corresponding medications prescribed to children enrolled in elementary Emotional Behavioral Disability (EBD) programs. The project employed a questionnaire that was distributed to elementary level teachers (EBD) to: (a) determine the proportion of …

This descriptive observation study examined the degree to which students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) have access to National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards-based curricula and instruction. Investigators completed 60 observations, using a partial interval time-sampling procedure, in 12 elementary general…

Background: When phenylketonuria (PKU) is not diagnosed and long-term treatment commenced within the first few weeks of life, permanent brain damage will occur. There is some evidence to show that late diagnosed or untreated people with PKU who have severe challenging behaviours may benefit from a low phenylalanine diet [Harper & Reid (1987)…

In this case series we report four cases of patients with Down syndrome with symptoms consistent with obsessive compulsive disorder. Each patient experienced substantial reduction in compulsive behaviors with pharmacotherapy of an SSRI alone or with the addition of risperidone to SSRI therapy. None of the patients experienced significant side…

A limited body of research on language deficits in children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) exists. However, initial studies have found a direct relationship between language deficits and EBD. Reading, writing, and math deficits have been found to co-occur in children with EBD and language deficits. Additionally, antisocial behaviors…

Risperidone has shown safety and efficacy for aggressive and destructive behaviors in short-term studies. This longer-duration study includes a broad sample. Forty subjects, aged 8-56 years (mean=22), all with mental retardation and 36 with autism spectrum disorders participated in this 22-week crossover study, with 24 weeks of open maintenance…

Objective: To examine the test-retest reliability of a new interviewer-based psychiatric diagnostic measure (the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment) for use with parents of preschoolers 2 to 5 years old. Method: A total of 1,073 parents of children attending a large pediatric clinic completed the Child Behavior Checklist 1 1/2-5. For 18 months,…

Objective: In a recent study, Thapar and colleagues reported that COMT "gene variant and birth weight predict early-onset antisocial behavior in children" with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We have attempted to replicate these findings in a group of ADHD children using a similar research design. Method: Children (n = 191)…

Despite improvements in interventions for children with autism, assessments tend to focus on their social, cognitive, and behavioral deficits, without similar systematic examination of their strengths. Strength-based assessment (SBA), which has been used in work with children with milder behavioral disorders, may also have value for individuals…

This monograph presents papers and dialogue group highlights from a symposium on the growing challenge of school aggression and violence, strategies to combat this aggression and violence, and ways to make schools safe again. An introductory paper by Cynthia L. Warger is titled "Responding to School Violence within an Educational Framework."…

Adolescents are the most suicidal population. Gender comparisons within this group show males are four times more likely to kill themselves, while females are three to nine times as likely to attempt suicide. This study compared 1993 and 1995 self-reported suicidal behavior in relation to the risk factors of tobacco use, alcohol use, drug use,…