Twenty-three years of observation and testing of the communication skills of a male with agenesis of the corpus callosum and normal IQ revealed initial weakness in language. Difficulties with fluent speech persisted into young adulthood. With intensive intervention, communication and academic skills developed and the participant completed high…

This speech calls for an end to prolonged debate about integration of preschool children in early intervention programs, discusses what is known from research on integration, describes quality indicators of early intervention programs, and makes suggestions for institutionalizing quality early intervention services. (JDD)

Formulates a conceptual framework to assess the iatrogenic effects of human services. Discusses the structurally negative effects incorporated into the system, when these services are used inappropriately, and what methods might test the iatrogenic potential of these services. (JS)

A survey of 89 United Kingdom health service professionals (pediatricians, physiotherapists, speech and occupational therapists) found widely varying levels of knowledge and understanding of the system of conductive education. A generally positive but cautious acknowledgement of the method's benefits for selected children was also found. The role…

This commentary reviews the articles in this special issue focusing on treatment of preschool and school-aged students with fluency disorders. The commentary addresses therapy and counseling models, the importance of attending to attitudes among children and parents, service delivery models for school programs, transfer of training, and recent…

Argues for the inclusion of ethnic and cultural diversity in professional psychology training, particularly the impact of this training on treatment outcome. Reviews the empirical literature examining both the direct and indirect linkages between ethnic and cross-cultural training and outcome. Identifies limitations of this research. Contains over…

Effects of self-monitoring alone and in combination with external contingent rewards on sight word acquisition were compared across two groups of four learning-disabled elementary students. Both treatments were found to increase sight word vocabulary, but contingent reward did not enhance the reactivity of self-monitoring for most students.…

Developmental Sentence Scoring (DSS) is a measure of spoken syntax that provides a numeric variable, provides some developmental data, and serves an organizing function for asking and answering clinical questions. DSS is useful in making diagnostic judgments, selecting goals and planning treatment, and measuring intervention efficacy. Difficulties…

This paper discusses the use of facilitated communication training with individuals labeled as intellectually impaired, including individuals diagnosed as autistic, at the DEAL Communication Centre in Victoria, Australia. The paper describes the clients, hand use problems addressed by facilitation, literacy, structuring success, fading support,…

A survey of parents of 54 school-age children with prelingual hearing loss being taught through the auditory-verbal approach revealed that 85% of children were estimated to read better than or as well as average normal hearing children. Of 37 children for whom standardized test scores were supplied, 30 scored at the 50th percentile or higher. (JDD)

Examines types and frequency of posttreatment contacts among bereaved parents who participated in an experimental support program. Compares those who reported high versus low social support and high versus low numbers of network confidants on selected outcome and coping variables. Number of network confidants did not significantly affect the…

Discusses how clinicians and researchers can critically evaluate information from efficacy studies of language intervention programs. It argues for combining both experimental and nonexperimental approaches and suggests that the use of matching in nonrandomized studies allows for comparison of groups of children participating in an intervention…

Written by the mother of a child with autism, this article discusses the journey from a diagnosis of autism at age 3 through the many therapies to upper grade school, where the child is doing so well that they have considered dropping the diagnosis. The miracles and hard work are discussed. (CR)

Assesses protocol for conducting a functional analysis of maintaining variables for children with selective mutism. A parent was trained in and later applied various behavior strategies designed to increase speech in an eight-year-old girl with selective mutism. Parent and child ratings of treatment were positive. Presents implications for future…

This study, with 4 parent-child dyads in which the children (ages 9 to 11) exhibited substantial homework problems, found that goal setting and contingency contracting produced significant improvements in children's homework accuracy. Two of the subjects showed substantial improvements in on-task behavior. Parents rated the procedures highly.…