bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Behavioural social work with encopretic children, their families and the school
Authors: SLUCKIN ALICE
Published: April 2006

Summary
Social work intervention and the use of behaviour modification techniques is described in five cases of childhood encopresis, all boys. In two cases an operant model was adopted and the parents were asked to reinforce with praise and stars approximation to the goal (trying) as well as success (defaecation into the lavatory). The P.S.W. rewarded the children intermittently with praise and small gifts and supported and praised the mother for the efforts they were making. In the third case contingencies surrounding elimination were altered in order to bring about desensitization following an injury the child had suffered while sitting on the seat of the school lavatory. This had resulted in fearfulness over going to the toilet at school culminating in alternate soiling and constipation. In the remaining two cases self‐monitoring was central to the treatment and training. The work was done within the context of a conventional casework relationship with the whole family which was warm and supportive in nature and directed towards problem solving in more than one area. Other members of the Child Guidance Team were involved with some of the children for the purpose of assessment, but the programmes were devised and carried out by the P.S.W. The author expresses the view that ‘treatment through training’ has shown better and quicker results than ‘treating the underlying causes ‐ not the symptom’. Several behavioural programmes currently in use are described and reasons given for the author's preference for the procedure adopted here.
Review: The effects of childminding: how much do we know?
Authors: RAVEN MICHAEL
Published: April 2006

Summary
The literature concerning the effects of childminding is critically reviewed, and the sources of some of the evidence which has been presented, are examined. Widespread concern about the effects of minding is noted, but it is suggested that such concern is not justified by the evidence currently to hand. It is concluded that little can be safely said to be known about this subject at the present time. A new approach to research in this area is proposed.
Visual acuity of school entrants
Authors: ISMAIL H. , LALL PATRICIA
Published: April 2006

Summary
A study of 4239 school entrants showed that 3–4% had less than normal or near normal distant vision and 0–8% had near vision impairment. The group requiring specialist advice and care, that is, those with 6/12 or worse vision in either eye were further investigated. The effectiveness of pre‐school examinations in the early detection of vision defects could thus be assessed. The results indicated that two‐thirds had not been detected during the pre‐school period. Where diagnosed, the great majority were between 3 and 5 years of age. In general, attendance at child health clinics for developmental surveillance was not a significant factor. Given that maturation has an effect, the difficulty seems to be the lack of suitable techniques rather than expertise. This suggests that the whole area of vision testing during the pre‐school period needs to be reviewed.
Home intervention with parents of severely subnormal pre‐school children: a final report*
Authors: SANDOW S. A. , CLARKE A. D. B. , COX M. V. , STEWART F. L.
Published: April 2006

Summary
A 3‐year intervention programme with parents of severely subnormal pre‐school children is described. Two experimental groups, one visited individually at 2‐week intervals and one similarly at 8‐week intervals are compared with a third distal contrast group receiving no intervention. Analyses of successive IQ changes in all three groups showed that the less frequently visited group made greater progress after 2 years than that receiving more visits but that this difference disappeared after 3 years. The contrast non‐intervention group made fewer gains overall than either of the two experimental groups. Four questions are discussed: the maintenance of early gains, the influence of social class, the optimal level of intervention and the meaning of successful intervention to parents. Evaluation of the project is concerned with experimental efficiency, methodology, and the problems of partnership.
Current maternal attitudes to infant feeding methods
Authors: LYON M. LOUISE , CHILVER GILL , WHITE D. G. , WOOLLETT ANNE
Published: April 2006

Summary
Mothers' feeding practices and their attitudes to breast and bottle feeding were investigated. Sixty‐four per cent started to breast feed and 35% continued past 2 months, a continuation rate which is higher than previously reported. Also higher than previously reported was the proportion of working class women breast feeding. This may reflect a current trend. Most women decided on their infant feeding technique early in pregnancy, and 80% followed that decision. For those who changed their minds about feeding practice postnatally, and for those who were initially undecided, the hospital was influential. Analysis of women's attitudes revealed that primiparous women found breast feeding more pleasurable and less restricting than they had anticipated. The results are discussed in relation to attempts to encourage breast feeding.
Primary care workers' perception of disturbed children and the agencies they use to help these children
Authors: MARKS FRANCES M. , WOLKIND S. N. , NAPPER ROSEMARY
Published: April 2006

Summary
The aim of this study was to investigate how workers from primary care agencies perceived children who might be considered disturbed and to elucidate those factors that caused them to refer a child or family to a specific agency for help. Questionnaires were distributed to various referring agencies and for comparison to Child Guidance Clinic Staff. The questionnaire had two components, the first examined the type of contact that the professionals had with other agencies. The second asked them to read theoretical case histories and answer questions about how they perceived the child and family, what agencies they might use and what types of treatment they felt were most appropriate. The results obtained are presented and their implications for the organization of child psychiatric services discussed.
A study of an urban health centre: factors influencing contact with mothers and their babies
Authors: WILLIAMS P. R. , ARGENT E. H. M. , CHALMERS COLIN
Published: April 2006

Summary
Some insight into the use of the primary care team was provided by a study of encounters with families with infants. The demand for primary care was large, and varied greatly depending on the circumstances of the family. Using statistical models, five possible influences on contact were examined ‐ the presence of other children in the family, distance from the surgery, the family's socioeconomic grouping, maternal age, and maternal depression.

Having more than one child and living close to the surgery increased the likelihood of a home visit by the doctor. There were proportionately more visits by the health visitors to first‐time mothers who were depressed, and this was unaffected by distance. The baby clinic was a popular meeting place, particularly for first‐time mothers, and attendance showed no obvious social class bias. The degree of help sought by mothers, in terms of the number of contacts, appeared disproportionate to the child's physical problems. This indicates that more research is needed into the appropriateness of many contacts, and the extent to which the practice team is the most effective source of help.
Intellectual and psychosocial functions of children, adolescents and young adults before and after operation for craniopharyngioma
Authors: GALATZER A. , NOFAR E. , BEIT‐HALACHMI N. , ARAN O. , SHALIT M. , ROITMAN A. , LARON Z.
Published: April 2006

Summary
An evaluation of intellectual, personal and social functioning was made in 16 young patients with craniopharyngioma. No changes were found in the overall IQ verbal and performances scores before and after operation, however, discrepancies between verbal and performance scores suggest that one of the manifestations of craniopharyngioma in children are disturbances in cognitive functions. The decrease in the quality of life of the patients and their families manifested through the deterioration of familial and social relationships and the decrease in scholastic achievements lead to the conclusion that children with craniopharyngioma and their families require close psychological supervision and counselling both before and after surgery.
Play materials for mentally handicapped children
Authors: RICHARDSON A. M. , REID G. , PHEMISTER M. R. , THOMAS G. V.
Published: April 2006

Summary
A range of experimental play materials are described which were designed to aid the development of manipulative skills such as posting, threading, fitting and matching in mentally handicapped children functioning at the 1–2‐year‐old stage of normal development. The play materials are designed to withstand rough treatment and they can be securely mounted on adjustable frames so that they can be presented to children with physical handicaps. There are few detachable parts to be thrown or dropped out of reach, and appropriate manipulations produce ‘rewarding’ auditory feedback. A preliminary assessment of the experimental play materials suggested that they prompted more developmentally productive kinds of manipulative play than did a selection of comparable conventional toys.
Delayed echolalia in autism: some observations on differences within the term
Authors: DYER CHRISTOPHER , HADDEN ANGELA J.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Attention has recently focused on the need to build up a corpus of case observations relating to the function of delayed echolalia in various handicapping conditions but especially in early childhood autism. This present article offers six functional categories as an aid to clear reporting of observations and, thus, clarification of this little‐understood facet of deviant language development.
Hearing loss and treatment in young Down's syndrome children
Authors: CUNNINGHAM CLIFF , McARTHUR KIM
Published: April 2006

Summary
Twenty‐four home‐reared Down's syndrome children aged 9–32 months were assessed by trained audiologists on three separate occasions (summer, autumn and spring 1977–1978). Distraction test procedures were used; all failed to pass the screening test and 80–85% registered as having moderate to profound losses. Seventy‐five per cent were categorized as having a conductive loss and some improvements were found over the test sessions as a result of surgical and decongestant treatment. Approximately 50% of the infants had been passed on similar screening procedures by the local health services. The results are discussed in relation to language development and service needs.
Health visitor support for families with Down's syndrome infants
Authors: CUNNINGHAM C. C. , AUMONIER M. E. , SLOPER P.
Published: April 2006

Summary
A health visitor was seconded to a university based research team studying early intervention with families who have an infant with Down's syndrome. She was given a 3‐week practical training and then provided a home‐based service for 61 families, visiting every 6 weeks until 2 years of age. Infant development and parental satisfaction with the service were compared to previous findings of the research group. Parental satisfaction was found to be very high and the progress of the infants compared favourably to previous studies. Following this, two field health visitors were given the training and then provided a service in their local areas. The progress of the infants was monitored at 6‐month intervals until 2 years of age, and parents were interviewed. Again no differences were found in the developmental progress of the infants and previous groups and parental satisfaction was high. The limitations of the training and some implications for practice were discussed.
How ‘flat’ are normal ability profiles in 4‐year‐olds?
Authors: LYNCH ANTHONY , VINCENT E.M. , MITCHELL L. B. , TRVEMAN M.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Group and individual ability profiles of 89 English 4‐year‐olds on the McCarthy scales of children's abilities (MSCA) are presented. The results suggest that at this age, there is a high expectation of obtaining at least one significant difference between a child's mean ability score and the individual ability of index scores. The direction of these significant differences in ability suggested that, in this age group, abilities measured by the MSCA verbal and perceptual performance indexes tend to be more advanced than abilities measured by the quantitative and memory indexes. Motor development is relatively retarded compared to these other abilities. (The results are at variance with the often accepted concept of a ‘flat’ ability profile in normal children.)

The use of the MSCA on English children could result in over referral of normal children, especially boys, who appear delayed on the motor index, and under referral of children who were regarded as normal on the verbal and perceptual indexes.
Health visiting and pre‐school children with behavioural problems in the County of South Glamorgan: an exploratory study
Authors: THOMAS J. A. , BIDDER R. T. , HEWITT K. , GRAY O. P.
Published: April 2006

Summary
This study surveys firstly, using a modified semantic differential technique, how a sample of health visitors in the County of South Glamorgan perceived different behavioural problems in preschool children. A selection of visiting records, covering a 1‐year period, is also studied. Results from the semantic‐differential indicate that health visitors perceive eating and sleeping as the most common problem areas. Hyperactivity and sleeping problems are seen as being the most difficult to deal with and the most disruptive to family life. Although health visitors generally feel it is necessary to follow up children with behaviour problems, they find these difficult to resolve. About one third of children are referred to other agencies. Visiting records reveal that children with hyperactivity and sleeping problems receive the highest number of visits from health visitors and that there is little improvement in these children over a period of 1 year. An extension of the health visitor's role and training to include behavioural treatments for pre‐school children is discussed.
Some family problems associated with the presence of a child with handicap in Nigeria
Authors: ENWEMEKA CHUKUKA S. , ADEGHE NOEL U.
Published: April 2006

Summary
The problems presented in 53 families by the presence of handicapped children arising from cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, Erb's palsy, talipes, arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and trauma, were studied in Benin City, Nigeria. Among other things, most fathers were found to be indifferent to their handicapped children and there was a highly significant difference in attitude between educated and enlightened fathers of handicapped children, and their barely educated counterparts. A statistically significant proportion of handicapped children were prevented from going to school because of their disabilities and in half of the families studied, occasional squabbles arose because of the presence of a handicapped child.

It is suggested that Nigeria and similar developing countries should lay emphasis on health education in their on‐going primary health care schemes.
Item reliability for the Griffiths scales of mental development
Authors: HANSON RUTH
Published: April 2006

Summary
As a preliminary to the revision of the Griffiths scales, the 498 items constituting the original test were studied in terms of inter‐observer agreement over the scoring, using videotapes of tests, given to children aged from 2 months to 7 years, and large scoring panels. Fifty‐seven items failed to be administered or scored adequately often. One hundred and twelve were found to be unreliable on one in three administrations and only 23 were unreliable on two or three administrations. Among items scored sufficiently often, 88% of all administrations were reliable.

Subscale differences were not as expected since the locomotor, personal—social and hearing and speech scales fared no worse than hand—eye coordination. Inter‐observer agreement varied with the age of the children. Subscale weaknesses were examined in terms of the age ranges most concerned.
A new approach to parental involvement in language intervention programmes
Authors: McCONKEY ROY , O'CONNOR MARY
Published: April 2006

Summary
The approach used was based around the concept of a videocourse. This consisted of five videotape programmes illustrating ways whereby parents can help their child's early language development, a handbook which summarized main points and a series of specific activities which parents were expected to carry out at home after viewing each programme. In all, 33 mothers and fathers have taken the course and their reactions are very favourable. More importantly though, the course did bring about significant changes in the way they talked to their children and marked improvements in most of the children's language usage. These were maintained some 4 months after the course had ended. It is argued that videocourses are easily disseminated to other services and thus seem to be a feasible way whereby all parents can have the opportunity to get specific and detailed information on helping their child's language development.
Utilization of the Family Fund
Authors: BRADSHAW JONATHAN , LAWTON DOROTHY
Published: April 2006

Summary
The Family Fund, for families with very severely disabled children, has operated since 1973. Evidence from local take‐up experiments, record linkages and a sample survey of recent applicants is collected together to estimate the proportion of eligible families who have applied and to examine the reasons why some eligible families have not applied.
The physiotherapist in the developmental management of the visually impaired child
Authors: SYKANDA ANN M. , LEVITT SOPHIE
Published: April 2006

Summary
The role of the developmental physiotherapist, rather than the general physiotherapist, in a developmental vision team is described. Physiotherapy can contribute to both the assessment and intervention programmes. Motor development and associated postural reactions will be trained, abnormal postures prevented or decreased, and body image and use of residual vision developed. Selection and supervision of aids and play equipment, as well as decreasing of physical handicap, are also included in the physiotherapist's role in helping the child and his family.
Parents' and teachers' differing views of short children's behaviour
Authors: HOLMES CLARISSA S. , HAYFORD JOHN T. , THOMFSON ROBERT G.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Short children, over two standard deviations below height expectation, have been described as being behaviourally immature and shown to be emotionally inhibited. The present study sought to extend these findings by systematically evaluating what role age and sex factors may have in the behavioural adjustment of groups of children with constitutional delay (CD), growth hormone deficiency (GHD) or Turner's syndrome (TS). Adolescent females were rated by teachers and parents as showing greatest behavioural immaturity and emotional inhibition of the groups studied. Although teachers' ratings discriminated among children's behaviour by age and sex factors, parent ratings appeared more influenced by children's diagnoses. Significant school problems were noted on parent ratings for all groups of children, except the young CD group. Peer teasing was frequently reported and a relatively large proportion (25%) of the studied short children were retained in kindergarten through second grade, apparently because of small size and immaturity.
Validational data on Lowe and Costello's Symbolic Play Test
Authors: UDWIN ORLEE , YULE WILLIAM
Published: April 2006

Summary
The validity of Lowe and Costello's Symbolic Play Test was assessed in two ways: by comparing the performance of preschoolers on this test with the levels of imaginative play manifested during periods of free play, and by comparing the test scores of normal speakers and children diagnosed as exhibiting developmental language disorder. Although the present subjects were somewhat older than those on which the test was standardized, significant correlations emerged between the test scores and ratings of imaginativeness in free play. In addition, the test discriminated well between language disordered children and normal speakers.
Evaluation of teaching methods in a home‐based training scheme for developmentally delayed pre‐school children
Authors: BIDDER R. T. , HEWITT K. E. , GRAY O. P.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Thirty‐eight pre‐school developmentally delayed children receiving the South Glamorgan Home Advisory Service were included in the study. The children were grouped according to developmental ability and manifesting problems. The effectiveness of three methods of teaching (activity charts, target setting, suggestion) were assessed under a balanced design. Weekly skill gain and increments on checklists were measured at the start and at the end of the study period. Parents' opinions on the different methods of teaching were requested and time samples of duration of home visiting were taken. On weekly skill gain, suggestion proved less effective than activity charts or target setting. Severely delayed children made least progress on weekly skill gains. Progress on checklists was independent of teaching method. However, group differences were observed in that severely delayed children (DQ range 22–61) and older (>17 months) Down's syndrome children made least gains on the checklists. Activity charts were preferred by parents although they were also rated as being the most time consuming. Duration of home visits tended to be greater when activity charts were used. Implications of the findings are discussed with reference to ways of improving advice given to parents and alternative ways of evaluating pre‐school educational programmes for particular groups of children.
A study of school children who had identified virus infections of the central nervous system during infancy
Authors: CHAMBERLAIN R. N. , CHRISTIE P. N. , HOLT K. S. , HUNTLEY R. M. C. , POLLARD R. , ROCHE M. C.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Forty‐nine children who had a virus infection of the central nervous system (CNS) when under 1 year of age were studied. One child had died during the initial illness and three of the survivors were severely disabled. The other survivors, more than 5 years after the initial illness, were all attending normal schools. These 45 children, together with 45 matched controls, were examined. We confirm the findings of other studies that virus infections of the CNS in infancy may cause severe disabilities in some cases, and may depress intellectual abilities in others, even though they appear to have recovered fully. Many of the children who had a virus infection of the CNS in infancy had adverse birth and social histories and so were exceptionally vulnerable, but these factors did not account fully for the findings, and when their influence was included in the analysis, the index children still had a mean performance IQ (WISC) 61 points lower than the control children (P<0·05), whereas there was less than 1 point difference between the verbal IQs. Attention is drawn to the problem of virus infections in neonatal units.
Child rearing in poor urban Jamaica
Authors: GRANTHAM‐McGREGOR SALLY , LANDMAN JACQUELINE , DESAI PATRICIA
Published: April 2006

SummaryChild rearing practices and attitudes were investigated using a questionnaire, among 75 families with 31–60‐month‐old children in poor suburban Kingston. A pattern emerged of many social contacts, outdoor activities and authoritarian discipline. While teaching and preparation for school were highly regarded, there was little conscious effort to foster cognitive and language development through play. Child rearing appears to reflect the influences of an African heritage, Western urbanization and poverty. Items from the questionnaire were used to devise an index of stimulation. Developmental assessments (DQs) were performed on a subgroup of 45 children. The results correlated positively with the index of stimulation.
The concept of interface related to services for handicapped families
Authors: REID KEN
Published: April 2006

Summary
The Warnock Report (1978) concept that a ‘link person’ was needed to liaise services to handicapped families was investigated with a one in three sample (n= 120) of parents with mentally handicapped children in a county in South Wales. The findings show that whilst almost half the parents considered a social worker to be in the best position to undertake this overall coordinating function, there remains a considerable gap between theory and practice.
Profiles of skill gain in delayed infants and young children
Authors: HEWITT K. E. , NEWCOMBE R. G. , BIDDER R. T.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Thirty‐eight developmentally delayed preschool children were entered into a study to assess their developmental progress on skills checklists during a 3‐month period. All children were receiving the South Glamorgan Home Advisory Service. Weekly tasks were set in a balanced manner. Children were assessed on twelve developmental checklists both prior to and following the study period. Results showed that in general children made greater progress in inspection/tracking and perceptual problem‐solving skills than in motor, self‐help and visuomotor areas. Separate analyses for Down's children and for children of different developmental levels indicated slightly altered developmental profiles. Results are discussed in terms of implications for early intervention programmes.
A behavioural parent training programme for single mothers of physically handicapped children
Authors: FELDMAN WENDY S. , MANELLA KATHLEEN J. , VARNI JAMES W.
Published: April 2006

Summary
The single mothers of four children with congenital physical disorders participated in a 9‐week parent training programme. The programme was developed to instruct them in the systematic utilization of behavioural techniques in order to enable them to teach their children self‐help skills and to reduce behaviour problems. The mothers successfully taught their children seven self‐help skills, with average self‐help skill performance increasing from 18% correct during baseline to 99% correct during a 5‐month follow‐up period. In addition, the mothers provided one another with social support and practical suggestions related to psychosocial stresses facing single parents of handicapped children. The findings suggest the potential of behavioural parent training techniques in facilitating functional independence in physically handicapped children, as well as providing single parents with increased feelings of being able to systematically contribute to their children's physical and psychosocial development.
Group programmes for parents of children with various handicaps*
Authors: HORNBY GARRY , MURRAY RAY
Published: April 2006

Summary
Programmes were conducted with groups of parents of school‐aged, physically handicapped, hearing impaired, and, mildly and moderately mentally handicapped children. In this paper the salient features of the organization of these parent programmes are discussed. Programmes have involved six to eight weekly 2 hour sessions. The format of each session included both lecture presentation and discussion in small groups. Discussions were led by educational psychologists using a combination of reflective and behavioural procedures. Evaluation, by means of post‐programme questionnaires and attendance checks, has shown that parents have found programmes to be valuable. An integral part of the parent programmes has been the training of special education teachers in the attitudes and skills necessary for working with parents of handicapped children. The introduction of group programmes is considered to complement the individual training and counseling services already available to such parents in New Zealand.
Mothers' play with toys: a longitudinal study with Down's syndrome infants
Authors: MCCONKEY ROY , MARTIN HEATHER
Published: April 2006

Summary
Play with parents is recognized as an important learning medium for all children, yet there have been remarkably few studies of mothers' spontaneous actions with toys while playing with their children and none at all with Down's syndrome infants. This was a home‐based study which commenced when the infants were 12 months old, and observations were made at approximately 6‐weekly intervals until the infants were 24 months old. Significant differences were noted in mothers' play patterns with different toys and over the year there were marked changes in their actions. These seemed to result from developments in the children's play with toys. The findings reinforce the competency of most mothers as interactors with, and teachers of, their children. Possible implications for intervention strategies are discussed, especially the provision of more specific information about the sequences of development in children's play.
Slugs and snails and puppy‐dog tails'‐children's ideas about the inside of their bodies
Authors: EISER CHRISTINE , PATTERSON DAVID
Published: April 2006

Summary
Twenty‐six children at each of four age‐levels (6, 8, 10 and 12 years) were asked to draw the inside of their bodies and to answer some questions on body organization and function. Although knowledge increased with age, it was consistently below that reported in earlier American studies. Children's responses to questions about how their bodies worked revealed some basic misunderstandings and errors. The significance of these data both for health education and for communicating with sick children is discussed.
Whooping cough vaccination: a review of the controversy since the 1981 DHSS report
Authors: HARDING CHRISTINA M.
Published: April 2006

Summary
This article reviews the literature on the whooping cough controversy subsequent to the publication of the DHSS report in 1981. The report's reception is outlined and its influence on specific, topical issues such as contraindications, vaccine efficacy, and the calculation of ‘risk’ statistics is considered. The seriousness of the disease, the age of its victims and its treatment by antibiotics are also discussed with specific reference to recent epidemics. The implications of recent research findings for the continuation of the immunization programme are presented. It is concluded that the controversy continues.
Children's knowledge of health and illness: implications for health education
Authors: EISER CHRISTINE , PATTERSON DAVID , EISER J. RICHARD
Published: April 2006

Summary
20 children at each of 4 age‐levels (6, 8, 9 and 11 years) were interviewed about their knowledge of health and illness. Children were asked to define ‘being healthy’ and what they must do to remain healthy. Knowledge of diseases and their prevention was poor. Children assigned a central role to diet in maintaining good health. The results are discussed in relation to possible ways of improving health education to school‐children.
Prolonged breast feeding related to later solid food acceptance
Authors: PAINE PATRICIA , SPEGIORIN CLODOMIR
Published: April 2006

Summary
132 full‐term healthy infants were studied for the first 18 months of life and parents were interviewed regarding their child's acceptance of solid foods. Results indicate that infants breast fed for less than 3 months showed a better acceptance of solid foods at 18 months than those breast fed for 6 months or more. It would appear that prolonged breast feeding increases resistance to weaning, and that later feeding problems can be reduced if chewable foods are introduced at an appropriate age.
Some reasons for disagreement among scorers of infant intelligence test items
Authors: HANSON R. , SMITH J. ALDRIDGE , HUME W.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Six videotapes covering 1406 administrations of items from the Griffiths Scales of Mental Development were made, and each one was shown to a different panel of 9 or 10 observers. Each person independently scored the items and made comments on administration and scoring. Reasons for disagreements among scorers were considered in terms of these comments and the characteristics of individuals and groups participating. Disagreement was particularly high for items from the Baby Scales. This was at least partly due to use of mothers' reports. Mothers' reports were found to present a particular problem when elicited on occasions for which they are not recommended by the manual. Across all ages disagreement was related to difficulties with both administrative and scoring criteria. The present study was designed to be sensitive to a range of sources of unreliability and the findings may have relevance for other infant assessment procedures.
Enhancement of object‐permanence performance in the Down's syndrome infant
Authors: MORSS JOHN R.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Four infants with Down's syndrome (aged 19–33 months) were presented with a restructured version of an object‐permanence task. Restructuring consisted of the embedding of single trials of the task within a sequence of simpler, related steps. Following failure on a standard presentation of the task, three Down's syndrome (DS) infants demonstrated success on trials embedded in the training sequence. Comparison was made with the performance of normal infants (aged 14–19 months) matched in terms of failure on the pre‐test. Only two out of nine normal infants registered success on the embedded trials. Results are discussed in terms of the differences between the DS infant and the normal infant, and the former's reliance on the deliberate structuring of his learning environment by a parent or educator.
Cultural influences and patient behaviour: some experiences in the paediatric ward of a Nigerian hospital
Authors: ODEBIYI A. I.
Published: April 2006

Summary
In this paper an attempt is made to analyse the incompatibilities between the professional and the layman's ideology in terms of models of illness and their treatment. From an interview with paediatricians at the Ile‐Ife Teaching Hospitals Complex in Nigeria, we found out that the conflicting encounters experienced could be divided into 2 groups: opposition as a result of religious ideology, held especially from the Jehovah's Witnesses Sect; and opposition as a result of some child‐rearing practices that were being strictly upheld by the mothers of the patients

From the cases cited, we noted that the adherence to some religious ideology was so strong that some patients were willing to withdraw from hospital treatment when it conflicted with a tenet of their religion. Of particular relevance here, was the fact that a religious leader of this sect agreed to a transfusion after he had been assured of secrecy. In this particular case, it was obvious that he feared ‘losing face’ among his followers. We felt that a more flexible relationship between the doctor and patient would reduce the tension; hence a case was made for a transcultural perspective based on an adequate knowledge of behavioural sciences.
Developmental milestones or conceptual millstones? Some practical and theoretical limitations in infant assessment procedures.
Authors: GAUSSEN TERENCE
Published: April 2006

Summary
There is a wide gap between recent research models of infant development and available clinical procedures. This paper considers the limitations of current assessment instruments, with special reference to motor‐impaired infants. It also examines the theoretical and conceptual limitations imposed on our understanding of the developmental process by the models of development and measurement on which the instruments are based. These limitations are especially important for assessment and intervention strategies with impaired infants (0‐30 months). It is suggested that new assessment methods are needed to tap the processes underlying developmental change and more accurately reflect the complexity of factors affecting development.
Visual, kinaesthetic and cross‐modal judgements of length by clumsy children: a comparison with young normal children
Authors: HULME CHARLES , SMART ANNE , MORAN GEORGINA , McKINLAY IAN
Published: April 2006

Summary
In a previous study, clumsy children, when compared to normal children of the same age, were found to be impaired in their ability to match the length of successively presented straight lines within and between the modalities of vision and kinaesthesis. The present study explores this finding further by comparing the clumsy children's performance with that of a group of younger normal children whose skills of movement are comparable to those of the clumsy children. It was found that the clumsy children's performance on the perceptual measures was equivalent to that of the younger normal children.
Community care: failure of professionals to meet family needs
Authors: AYER SAM
Published: April 2006

Summary
This paper is based on a 3‐year study involving 132 mothers caring for their severely mentally handicapped school children at home. The study shows that many mothers lack awareness of available services. Services are determined by professional perspectives. Many mothers find that available services tend to substitute rather than reinforce their caring capacity. Services are ad hoc and crisis orientated rather than planned and coordinated. Increasing numbers of parents are seeking support through mutual aid and self‐help groups.
Pre‐school intervention programmes
Authors: READER LESLEY
Published: April 2006

Summary
This paper re‐examines the rationale for pre‐school intervention programmes and the results from a variety of programmes are reviewed. The distinction is drawn between programmes for the socially disadvantaged and for the handicapped. The importance of parental involvement in such programmes is discussed, both with regard to advantages for the child and for the family. The wide variety of preschool programmes that are possible are examined with consideration given to the population served, the geographical area, the theoretical basis and delivery systems. Considerable attention is paid to the difficulty of evaluating any pre‐school intervention programme. With these points in mind, home visiting, a popular form of pre‐school intervention with practitioners, is examined and advantages and disadvantages of this form of intervention are enumerated. The paper ends with a cautionary note, and attention paid to authors who feel that early intervention can have dangers. The conclusion drawn is that better documentation of the work going on in the field is the only way to overcome gaps in our knowledge and to individualize services to parents and to children.
Developmental progress of preschool Down's syndrome children receiving a home‐advisory service: an interim report
Authors: WOODS P. A. , CORNEY M. J. , PRYCE G. J.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Studies have shown that the progressive slowing of the intellectual development of Down's syndrome children can be minimised by the provision of very early educational input. Such provision has been available from a Home Advisory Service for families with a preschool handicapped child in Clwyd, North Wales, since 1975. The development of these children has been carefully monitored over this time and the findings to date give an encouraging picture in respect of the effectiveness of such a service. They also suggest that the intellectual prognosis for children with this syndrome may be less gloomy than considered hitherto.
Social interaction between parents and babies: validation of an intervention procedure
Authors: McCOLLUM JEANETTE A.
Published: April 2006

Summary
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a set of intervention procedures developed as part of a parent‐infant interaction model from a larger research study on social interaction between parents and their handicapped infants. Data is presented for three dyads, selected to illustrate the applicability of the procedures under a variety of different conditions including ages of the babies, target behaviours chosen and intervention situations. Results indicated that interactions could be altered through direct intervention with the mothers. The procedures used in the Social Interaction Assessment and Intervention model thus seem to be valid for bringing about change in interactions in dyads with a variety of interactive problems, in at least two different types of situations, and with babies differing widely in age and extent of delay.
The Mary Sheridan Unit: an evaluation of the effects of a hospital unit on the development of visually‐impaired multiply handicapped children
Authors: WILLIAMS TIM
Published: April 2006

Summary
The evidence in this study appears to indicate that adopting a goal‐planning approach can provide demonstrable and clear improvements in the developmental functioning of multiply handicapped blind children. However, while the improvements in functioning for self‐help and sensorimotor abilities are quite significant, those for communication and language skills are much less so. Three possible hypotheses have been advanced as to why this should be so. The hypothesis that the setting might be an institutionalizing one was rejected on the grounds that some of the evidence did not fit with that from other populations. The second hypothesis referred to the lack of formal speech and communication training on the unit. The best possible test of this hypothesis would be to employ a speech therapist to work on the unit and support for such a scheme is being sought. Finally, it was hypothesized that the way in which the staff interacted with the children was not being sufficiently modified to take account of the children's handicaps.
Achievements of infants on items of the Griffiths scales: 1980 compared with 1950
Authors: HANSON R. , SMITH J. ALDRIDGE , HUME W.
Published: April 2006

Summary
As a preliminary to the revision of the Griffiths scales, 79 examiners throughout Britain tested 447 infants under the age of 2 years during 1978–1982. Compared with the original standardization sample of 1947–1951, the 1980 sample mean general quotient (GQ) was significantly higher, even after adjustments had been made for a slightly skewed social class distribution. Nor did regional differences between samples account for the GQ differences. Unreliable items were not significantly more common among those where the median age at passing had changed most. Various technical difficulties in representing differences between samples were encountered and dealt with. A population's overall results may be given in terms of mean score increase per month, median age advance in weeks or months, e.g. per year, and increase in general developmental quotient. Findings of differences between populations in age at passing individual items can be given as advances in median age. but are better expressed as ratios of the median ages of the two samples in order to deal with the differences in the chronological age for which items are designed. Only then can items be compared for amount of change. In terms of score and mental age advances the second year appears more changed than the first, but in terms of GQ the reverse is true. The locomotor scale mean differs more than other scales from the original norms for both years of infancy, while the personal‐social scale differs more in the first year. Taking the most cautious estimate of differences from the data available on both samples, at least K10 items are now passed earlier than in the 1950 sample and the ratio of 1950 to 1980 ages is greater than 110 for 83 of those. Further study of the Griffiths scales items, in relation to one another and to cultural factors, seems feasible on the basis of steps illustrated in this paper.
Perspectives on intervention with young blind children
Authors: SIMMONS JOYCE NESKER , DAVIDSONSON IAINF. W. K.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Problems of early intervention with young blind children are analysed from a conceptual perspective. Mediation is linked to the unique developmental mode of blind children and the relationship illustrated through the analysis of some familiar problems in intervention.
The effects of diabetes mellitus on the school attendance and school achievement of adolescents
Authors: RYAN CHRISTOPHER , LONGSTREET CHERYL , MORROW LISA
Published: April 2006

Summary
This study examined the relationship between school absences and neuropsychological functioning in a group of adolescents who developed diabetes mellitus after the age of 5 years, and a demographically‐similar group of non‐diabetic teenagers. The diabetic group missed significantly more school, performed more slowly on a series of visuomotor tasks, and obtained lower scores on tests of reading, spelling, and arithmetic achievement. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that the cognitive measures were differentially affected by the demographic and school attendance variables. Achievement test performance was best predicted by measures of school attendance, whereas visuomotor test performance was best predicted by demographic characteristics (grade and sex). These results imply that the somewhat lower scores earned by many diabetic youngsters on tests of general knowledge may have a psychosocial basis.
Dependency and family care of young adults with disabilities
Authors: HIRST MICHAEL
Published: April 2006

Summary
This paper presents findings on the independence skills of young adults with severe disabilities obtained in a recent survey. Most young people in the sample were heavily dependent on others for help with personal care and mobility. Many also required a considerable amount of supervision because of severe behaviour disturbance. The main burden of daily care was borne by the young adults' mothers. Suggestions are made for fostering independence in self‐care and wider social skills.
Families with more than one handicapped child
Authors: WILD N.J. , ROSENBLOOM L.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Clinical patterns, aetiological factors and utilization of services were studied in 40 families who had more than one handicapped child. By retrospective review of the case notes and interviewing consenting parents (90%), data relating to diagnosis, investigations, genetic counselling, social circumstances and help received were obtained. Both children had the same disorder in 31 families, however in only nine of these families did the children have a specific diagnosis. Non‐specific mental retardation was the commonest disorder (40 children). Of the 673 special investigations performed, only 14 were diagnostic. Genetic counselling had been given to only 19 families. Thirty‐two of the families had remained as stable units and of the children, 51 received attendance allowances and 21 had periods of respite care. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Preventive education and birth order as co‐determinants of IQ in disadvantaged 5‐year‐olds*
Authors: BOAT B. W. , CAMPBELL F. A. , RAMEY C.T.
Published: April 2006

Summary
The effects of preventive education and birth order on IQ scores of 95 economically disadvantaged children at risk for retarded intellectual development were studied. Experimental first‐ and later‐born children participated from birth in a 5‐year programme of systematic educational intervention. An equal number of children served as controls and received no systematic intervention. First‐borns prevailed as the brighter children in both the educational treatment group and the control group when Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) full scale and verbal IQ scores were compared. Furthermore, mothers of first‐borns (70% of whom were only‐born at age 5) achieved significantly higher WAIS scores than did mothers of later‐born children. Results suggest that later‐born disadvantaged children are at greatest risk for developmental retardation.