Studies on the hyperactive child-VII: Neurological status compared with neurotic and normal children.

Abstract

Twenty hyperactive children were compared with neurotic and normal controls. Hyperactive children showed significantly more neurological abnormalities, principally an excess of soft signs reflecting sensorimotor incoordination, but no differences in major neurological signs, EEG abnormalities, or medical history. It is hypothesized that chronic hyperactivity in children of normal IQ is a disorder discrete from neurosis and is probably an organic syndrome, most likely a biological variant rather than part of a continuum of reproductive casualty. A test of interexaminer reliability showed most of the neurological signs to be highly reliably observable.

Neuropsychological functioning, motor speed, and language processing in boys with and without ADHD

“…We assembled a neuropsychological battery informed by reported ADHD executive deficits (Grodzinsky & Diamond, 1992), verbal deficits (Werry et al, 1987), sensory-motor deficits Werry et al, 1972), and response organization effects (Van der Meere et al, 1989). All tasks were self-paced, maximizing the importance of speed rather than errors in detecting ADHD performance deficits (Sykes, Douglas, & Morganstern, 1973).…”

“…The frontal-striatal model also predicts motor abnormalities in ADHD (Heilman et al, 1991). Clinical observations support the notion of motor deficits--for example, on neurological examination children with ADHD can appear deficient in tasks that tap sensory-motor integration (Werry et al, 1972). One research need, however, is to appraise motoric functioning separately from verbal response or visual-spatial ability.…”

A Critical Note on the Predictive Validity of “The Hyperkinetic Syndrome”

“…It should first be said that evidence from a variety of sources has failed to support the notion of a specific association between brain damage and hyperactivity. Thus, Werry et al (1972), referring to a number of factor analytic studies, concluded that there was Httle tendency for hyperactivity, inattention or emotional labihty to relate, either to each other or to indices of brain damage. Furthermore, population surveys (Rutter et al, 1970a) show that children with frank brain injury may manifest any form of psychiatric disorder and that overactivity is not found disproportionately often amongst them.…”

Hyperkinetic and Conduct Problem Children in a Primary School Population: Some Epidemiological Considerations

“…Several studies indicate that certain neurological signs such as minor degrees of uncoordination or mirror movements are more common among hyperkinetic than among normal or neurotic children (e.g. Werry et al, 1972). Other studies have, however, failed to demonstrate any association (e.g.…”