Recent developments in technology have resulted in a new assistive device for profoundly deaf children: the cochlear implant. However, many variables must be considered when evaluating children for the device, one of which is parental expectations. Because expectations are sometimes unreasonably high, cochlear implant teams need to be aware of the dynamics involved in expectations and of ways to help parents come to a realistic understanding of the benefits and limitations of implants.

This exploratory study examined the coping strategies and perceptions of 24 graduate students in occupational therapy who were participating in their second Level II fieldwork experience. The instruments used were the revised Ways of Coping Checklist (WCCL) (Vitaliano, Russo, Carr, Maiuro, & Becker, 1985) and a questionnaire developed by the authors. The results showed that of the five coping scales of the WCCL, the students used the Problem-Focused and Seeks Social Support strategies more than the Blamed Self, Wishful Thinking, and Avoidance strategies. Most of the students perceived the fieldwork experience as important, controllable, and stressful, but not disruptive to their lives.

A model o f social stress was used to examine variables associated with 1;fe satisfaction o f older people who were making residential relocations fi-om one level o f independence to another level of independence. Data were collected regarding life satisfaction, perceptions of the relocation, coping strategies, and possible conditioning variables.Many older people experience residential relocations that involve transitions from one level of independence to another

A questionnaire, the revised Ways of Coping Checklist, was sent to all professional (entry-level) graduate students in the United States in one academic year during their second fieldwork level II experience to determine what coping strategies they used during their fieldwork experience. Information was also gathered regarding their perceptions of this clinical experience. Responses from 101 students showed that they used Problem-Focused and Seeks Social Support strategies more than Wishful Thinking, Blamed Self, or Avoidance strategies. More than half of the students found the experience to be stressful, and almost all agreed that it was important. Most agreed that they had control over their present circumstances in the fieldwork experience.

This article was designed to consolidate literature (1991 to present) regarding the relationship between a variety of independent variables and employment outcome following traumatic brain injury. Of the sixteen articles reviewed, researchers most frequently examined the relationships of the following variables to employment: education, age, and severity measures. Somewhat less frequently, studies were identified that examined verbal measures, gender, DRS scores, marital status, Performance IQ and race, in descending order. We have attempted to show how research can be applied to assessment and vocational planning in rehabilitation settings and have suggested that the current article serve as a catalyst for further research.