Showing papers by "Forrest C. Bennett published in 1980"

Middle ear function in learning-disabled children.

Abstract: To investigate the possible association of chronic otitis media and school learning problems, past and current middle ear status in 53 learning-disabled (LD) children was compared to that of 56 control children without learning problems. A history of recurrent otitis media was obtained in 23% of the LD children and in 9% of the control children. Thirty-eight percent of LD children and 16% of control children had hearing abnormalities on pure tone audiometry; 49% of LD children and 21% of control children had abnormal tympanometry. LD children had significantly more middle ear malfunction than control children. Chronic, undetected middle ear problems may play a role in the etiology of some school learning disabilities.

Back to blaming parents

Abstract: I was distressed to see the understanding and management of children with behavior and/or learning problems set back 20 years by Dr James S. Miller9s article (Pediatrics 61:217, 1978). The unifying concept of minimal brain dysfunction arose in the 1950s for three main reasons: (1) many children seen clinically for family, school, and/or peer problems showed a mixture of both hyperactivity and learning disability in a wide range from mild to severe1-3; (2) most of these children, as Dr Miller states, had no history even suggestive of brain damage4; and (3) most of these children were treated as though their hyperactivity and cognitive deficits were caused entirely by interpersonal, family relationships, thus reinforcing parental guilt and making psychotherapy for the parents and child the usual treatment of choice without consideration of other causes and treatments.5