DIAGNOSIS OF SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES IN A JUVENILE DELINQUENT POPULATION

• NCJ Number: 52114
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 42 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 26-33
• Author(s): J W PODBOY; W A MALLORY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Administrative Office of the United States Courts
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE APPLICATION OF A LEARNING DISABILITY DIAGNOSTIC BATTERY TO A RANDOMIZED SAMPLE OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS TO IDENTIFY LEARNING DISABILITIES IS REPORTED.

Abstract

A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS DEALING WITH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND LEARNING DISABILITIES IS PRESENTED. THE EXISTENCE OF A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SUPPORTIVE EVIDENCE. USING A RANDOM SAMPLE OF 250 SUBJECTS, 183 MALES AND 67 FEMALES, DETAINED AT THE LOS GUILUCOS JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY IN SANTA ROSA, CALIF., FROM AUGUST 1976 THROUGH MAY 1977, THIS STUDY DEVELOPS A BATTERY OF TESTS DESIGNED TO MEASURE LEARNING DISABILITY. RESULTS ARE REPORTED AND COMPARED TO LEARNING DISABILITIES IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE EXAMINERS WERE THREE PH.D. LEVEL PSYCHOLOGISTS. THROUGH AN INTERVIEW WITH EACH SUBJECT, DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED, AND THE FOLLOWING BATTERY WAS ADMINISTERED: BENDER VISUAL MOTOR GESTALT -- TO MEASURE VISUAL PERCEPTION, FINE MOTOR COORDINATION, AND DETECT GROSS INDICATORS OF BRAIN DAMAGE; DICTATION -- TO MEASURE ABILITY TO TRANSFER SPOKEN WORD TO WRITTEN WORD; BABCOCK STORY RECALL TEST -- TO MEASURE IMMEDIATE AND DELAYED MEMORY FOR AUDITORIALLY PRESENTED PROSE MATERIAL; WECHSLER ADULT INTELLIGENCE SCALE BLOCK DESIGN -- TO MEASURE VISUAL-MOTOR INTEGRATION; WECHSLER INTELLIGENCE SCALE FOR CHILDREN DIGIT SPAN -- TO MEASURE AUDITORY MEMORY; PEABODY PICTURE VOCABULARY TEST -- TO GIVE A QUICK MEASURE OF INTELLIGENCE; WIDE RANGE ACHIEVEMENT TEST, READING -- TO MEASURE GRADE LEVEL OF READING ABILITY; GATES-MACGINTIE READING TEST, VOCABULARY GRADES 10-12 VERSION -- TO MEASURE READING VOCABULARY; AND GATES-MACGINTIE READING TEST, COMPREHENSION, GRADES 10-12 VERSION -- TO MEASURE READING COMPREHENSION. ACCORDING TO THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM USED, 12.9 PERCENT OF THE SUBJECTS WERE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, 48.9 PERCENT WERE LEARNING DISABLED, AND 38.2 PERCENT WERE NOT LEARNING DISABLED. WHILE A NONDELINQUENT SAMPLE WAS NOT USED FOR COMPARISON IN THIS STUDY, THE PERCENTAGE OF LEARNING DISABLED IN THE GENERAL POPULATION IS INDICATED TO CLUSTER AROUND 10 TO 20 PERCENT, COMPARED TO ABOUT 50 PERCENT IN THE SAMPLE. SINCE A PERSON WITH NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE CAN BE TAUGHT TO ADMINISTER THE BATTERY, ITS USE IN THE FIELD IS RECOMMENDED. DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)