Search

The Standard Pseudoisochromatic Plates (SPP) color vision test was compared to the Ishihara color vision test with respect to screening validity, digit confusion errors, and individual plate efficiency. Results from 315 1st and 3rd grade males confirmed previous reports that the SPP is an effective screening test. Moreover, the SPP test was superior to the Ishihara test with respect to digit confusion errors. Color normal children made about 5 to 7 times as many errors on the Ishihara test as on the SPP. Screening inefficiency values of individual plates of both tests were calculated. A high inefficiency value of a SPP plate was usually caused by its inability to detect color defective subjects.

Zinc deficiency that was diagnosed at 14 weeks of age developed in a breast-fed premature infant. There was a rapid response to zinc supplements (20 mg/day) and therapy was stopped after three weeks without recurrent disease. The maternal breast milk had a low level of zinc and this could not be corrected by oral zinc supplements.

Assessment and remedial approaches derived from the field of learning disabilities were applied in two studies of hyperlexic children. Information-processing strengths and weaknesses of hyperlexic children were assessed in the first study, and the hypothesis that hyperlexic children have superior abilities to retain sound/symbol associations was investigated. Results supported this hypothesis, and indicated that the exceptional reading skills of hyperlexic children are not simply a result of repeated exposure to words. In the second study, a hyperlexic child's ability to decode words was used to increase her functional speech. Written prompts resulted in rapid increases in appropriate verbal responses in naturalistic settings. Furthermore, our results demonstrated maintenance and generalization of the positive effects of written prompts.