Assessment at age seven of 17 very low birthweight (VLBW) children who had chronic lung disease (CLD) at birth and 28 VLBW children without CLD found that, although CLD did not appear to confer much added risk to health, it did seem to add significantly to risks for poor school performance that are known to be associated with very low…

Using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study and applying hierarchical linear modeling, this study found a strong gap in achievement in math and science between adolescents with and without learning disabilities (LD). The gap was reduced for LD adolescents who did not make a school transition until at least ninth grade. (DB)

A study involving 453 pairs of Israeli parents and teachers used an item response theory measurement model(IRT) to examine the 28-item Conners Teacher's Rating Scale (CTRS) for diagnosing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. IRT analyses revealed structural inadequacies involving the inappropriateness of the 4-point Likert-type scale used by…

A longitudinal study involving 400 children, one third of whom were identified as hyperactive in 1974, investigated tobacco smoking and substance dependencies. The results found almost twice as many participants with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder smoked cigarettes daily as controls and twice as many were cocaine dependent. (CR)

Reports on the application of a self-management strategy for improving the classroom behavior of students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The intervention focuses on teaching students to systematically rate their own behavior according to the rating of their teacher. Two case-study illustrations are provided. (Author/CR)

Describes the Irvin Paraprofessional Program (IPP), a 12-week intensive intervention that includes: (1) direct intervention to children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by specially trained paraprofessionals; (2) teacher consultation by the school psychologists on effective classroom management strategies; (3) school-based…

This study investigated early clinical differences between 27 children (ages 0-4) with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified and 27 children with attention deficit disorder. Results revealed almost no differences between both groups with respect to pregnancy or birth complications and suggest that differences become more…

The sleep profiles of 13 children (ages 5-13) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who were treated with a fixed dose of methylphenidate for at least one month were compared with those of 16 healthy siblings. Significantly more children with ADHD demonstrated sleep disturbances and higher rates of sleep disorders. (Author/CR)

This introductory article describes following articles that present a variety of models of medication monitoring that can be carried out to ensure that when medication is used to treat attention disorders in children, it is used effectively and safely. Implications for persons working with children with attention deficits are discussed. (CR)

Focuses on methodological issues involved in choosing instruments to monitor behavior, once a comprehensive evaluation has suggested trials on Ritalin. Case examples illustrate problems of teacher compliance in filling out measures, supplying adequate placebos, and obtaining physical cooperation. Emerging school-based methodologies are discussed…

A technique is presented for evaluating methylphenidate (MPH) effects on core behavioral symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at the single-subject level of analysis. Case-study results and multivariate analyses suggests systematic evaluation of behavior and cognitive MPH dose-response relationships could lead to more accurate MPH…

A study examined the efficacy of the Restricted Academic Task in evaluating the effects of stimulant medication in 149 children (ages 5-17) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The measure consists of standardized observation of a child performing an academic-like task, and was found to be both reliable and valid. (Author/CR)

Discusses the discrepancies among physicians, psychologists, and schools regarding the diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit disorders. Stresses the need for all evaluations to include cross-disciplinary cooperation, and for the acceptance of standardized measures as part of the identification and treatment process. (CR)

A study involving 24 special educators and 31 regular educators found that special educators using transenvironmental programming who received curriculum-based measurement information about their students' academic progress were more likely to plan and implement academic interventions in preparation for students' transition than those who did not…

Reviews the methods, technologies, and operating tenets of case studies of reading disabilities completed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Results suggest that the assumptions of anatomical and functional modularity for cortical processes become guiding principles for diagnosing and correcting reading difficulties. (Author/CR)