Investigates methods for the early detection of learning difficulties that were used in the screening of 788 kindergarten children. Of students in high risk groups, 25 percent failed to learn to read and write, but all students in the low risk groups could perform these activities. (RJC)

Analysis of data on 1,404 young children with hearing losses indicated that 80% of the children were identified via informal hearing-screening procedures, such as parental suspicion and referral. Auditory brainstem response technology provided the lowest mean identification age. The study concludes that formal screening programs are not locating…

The Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behavior, an instrument used to identify persons with both mental retardation and mental health problems, was evaluated with 89 Dutch adults having mental retardation. Reliability and validity of the scale and relationships with subject characteristics were examined. (Author/DB)

Factor structure and predictive validity of a measure of vanity-motivated overspending were investigated based on a sample of 2,030 individuals. Confirmatory factor analysis supports the relationship between vanity and poor spending habits, but further refinement of the scale is warranted. (SLD)

Teachers and parents completed the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) for 17 congenitally blind children (ages 4 to 11). The modified format ABC completed by teachers detected three of four children with pervasive developmental disorder without any false positives. (Author/SW)

A study found that formal federally mandated equipment screening requirements are negligible in meeting their stated objectives of preventing purchase of unnecessary/duplicative equipment. Savings resulting from purchases not made represented under 0.008 percent of all federal dollars used to purchase equipment, with $10.35 spent for every dollar…

The author of EC 604 294 examines the lack of training students receive in applying problem-solving processes to novel situations and explores the development of her interest in defining and operationalizing the concept of independent living skills in individuals with disabilities, especially deafness. (JDD)

The relationship between scores on the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Revised (WISC-R) was studied for 13 white and 27 African-American academically deficient male adolescent delinquents. Results support use of the K-BIT as a screening instrument and the WISC-R as a follow-up or comprehensive…

This study examined the effectiveness of the Behavior Summarized Evaluation to discriminate 58 autistic from 58 nonautistic mentally retarded children. The measure clearly separated the two samples with between-group differences highest on four items indicating the most particular pattern in autistic children was the association of autistic…

At prekindergarten screening, 84 children were evaluated with the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) and the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration. Two years later, teachers' ratings of the students (now in first grade) on reading performance indicated that students with poor sight-word vocabularies performed lower on the…

To increase the number of German employees undergoing rehabilitation rather than retiring early because of medical disabilities, a screening process was developed whereby the pension insurance institutions responsible for administering medical rehabilitation measures would identify persons in need of rehabilitation and urge them to take part. An…

Ipsative subtest pattern stability was examined for 60 preschool children (31 males and 29 females) on the Bracken Basic Concept Scale and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children over a 4-6 week test-retest interval. The moderate level of profile stability found warrants cautious use of the ipsative interpretation approach. (SLD)

The study found that primary grade children with reading impairments (n=24) or learning disabilities (n=8) demonstrated a marked deficit in ability to discriminate patterned pairs of tones on the Seashore Rhythm Test compared to controls (n=26). Results suggest use of the test to detect young children with potential reading problems. (Author/DB)

Fifty-nine girls (age 12 and under) who were associates of victims of sexual abuse received a colposcopic examination. Forty-five of the girls were found to have abnormal genital findings, which were considered specific for sexual abuse in 40 cases. Medical evaluation of siblings and close associates of sexual abuse victims is recommended.…

A study assessed the feasibility of sequential testing of medical students using standardized patients. Sequential testing passes students who score well on the first segment of the test thus eliminating additional student-standardized patient encounters. Subjects were six classes of Southern Illinois University students (n=404). Results strongly…