Vision analysis and refractive status of youths in a juvenile detention home population

Clinical optometric findings of 633 juvenile dentention youths were statistically evaluated and compared to data from the general population. The youths had a higher referral rate of refractive errors, organic problems, and muscle in balances than the general population. Female youths exhibited a higher incidence and greater severity of myopia than males at all ages. Referral rate for astigmatism among the youths was higher than the general population although the dioptric power was in agreement with previous studies.

Operant approaches to group therapy in a school for handicapped children

In order to determine the effectiveness of operant approaches to group therapy with children with cerebral palsy or mental retardation, four boys aged between 4 years 10 months and 5 years 7 months were given a total of 23 twice-weekly 30-minute treatment sessions. After treatment there was considerably improvement in the children's attention-to-tasks and they showed some increase in social interactions, though to a lesser degree. Teacher ratings also showed some improvement in classroom behavior.

Menstrual cycle and contraceptive hormonal effects on temporal discrimination

2 groups of normal females, one group receiving synthetic oestrogen and progestogen preparations, were tested for the discrimination of temporally paired flashes on 5 occasions corresponding to standard points on the menstrual cycle. The discrimination scores were subjected to a signal-detection analysis. The results indicated lower sensory sensitivity scores for the medicated group which also failed to show the cyclical changes evidenced by the nonmedicated Ss. It is suggested that the cyclical changes paralleled the hypothetical changes in endogenous oestrogen and progesterone secretion which are nullified by the synthetic hormones.