The hyperactive child. Should we be paying more attention?
J. Varga
Current literature on hyperactivity stresses the central role of short
attention, distractibility, and impulsivity in contributing to the child's
behavioral and learning difficulties. Less emphasis is presently placed on
minor neurological abnormalities ("soft signs") and unproved theories of
brain injury. There has also been a trend toward a more comprehensive,
multidisciplinary approach to the problem in an attempt to meaningfully
integrate medical and psychoeducational input. Professional awareness of
the family's need for supportive counseling and the importance of
appropriate educational placement for the hyperactive child has enhanced
the effectiveness of intervention programs. Although stimulant medication
has been clearly shown to favorably influence behavior ratings and measures
of attention in hyperactive children, pharmacologic manipulation of deviant
social behavior remains a very controversial subject.