Comparison of behaviors exhibited by 19 hyperactive and 17 nonhyperactive (learning disordered) children found differences between groups to be more often qualitative than quantitative. Hyperactive students demonstrated more talking, unsystematic search, and motor impersistence while nonhyperactive students demonstrated more upper extremity…

The performance of 20 hyperactive and 26 comparison elementary-school boys on a spelling recognition task found that color facilitates attention to detail. Hyperactive children who practiced the task with all black letters first and color added later out-performed comparison children. (Author/JDD)

A study compared the reaction time and efficiency of cognitive processing on a speeded classification task, involving 43 children with attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity, 22 children with attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity, and 16 controls, aged 6-13. It was found that the children's diagnoses could not be distinguished on…

Describes the case of Casey Jesson, a hyperactive child ordered by the state of Hew Hampshire to ingest Ritalin or forego a public education. Despite adverse side effects and the perils of drug dependency, there is greater parental and educator acceptance of Ritalin than ever before. Scientologists are sparking an anti-Ritalin campaign. Includes…

The variety of methods available for the assessment of hyperactivity in preschool populations is reviewed. Specific procedures for assessment are presented from a multidisciplinary perspective, integrating biophysical, behavioral, cognitive, and ecological models. (Author/JDD)

On 2 occasions, observed 22 boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 22 controls in laboratory setting which allowed subjects to steal or cheat. ADHD subjects received methylphenidate-placebo crossover. Laboratory stealing and property damage were positively correlated with maternal and staff ratings of parallel behaviors.…

This study examined intelligence and academic characteristics of 30 elementary aged boys with pure hyperactivity and 41 boys with hyperactivity mixed with additional conduct or oppositional defiant disorders. Findings suggest a great deal of heterogeneity on all measures along with some decrement in academic performance when conduct or…

This article describes the historical conceptualization of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the similarities between the behavioral manifestations of ADHD and creativity, some speculations about their common etiology, some illustrative case studies, and practical implications of mistaking one for the other. (JDD)

Given principals' responsibility to ensure that all their students are appropriately educated, they are obligated to provide adequate leadership for developing the knowledge base and competence to secure Section 504 compliance (and avoid unnecessary penalties). Section 504 applies to students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder who do…

After 15 boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder were informed that they had taken either medication or placebo, they completed computer tasks, self-assessments, and causal judgments. Boys predicted better performance when told they were on medication. For self-evaluations, medication status and information interacted, with boys…

Morphometric analysis of magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed that, compared to nondisabled controls, the seven children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had a smaller corpus callosum. Results suggest that subtle differences may exist in the brains of these children and that deviations in normal corticogenesis may underlie the…

The relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, coping strategies, and academic success is investigated. A self-report measure of ADHD symptoms and two measures of coping behaviors were used. Results indicated high-symptom students used fewer coping behaviors. However, intelligence was associated with academic…

Reliability and construct validity, including confirmatory factor analysis, of the ASQ-T were examined. Conners's 1989 and Margalit's 1983 factor models were compared on a new sample (N=70 teachers). Psychometric properties of the ASQ-T were examined, particularly its utility as a measure of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and comorbidity…

Examines the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral self-control therapy on children with ADHD Explores whether the combination of training in self-control with training in anger management has better outcomes on two subgroups of hyperactive children, aggressive (n=16) and nonaggressive (n=16). Overall improvements were found, however improvements of…

The saccadic eye movements, generated during a visual oddball task, were compared for 10 autistic children, 10 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 10 dyslexic children, and 10 typically developing children. Several abnormal patterns of saccades were found in the autistic group. (DB)