Articles
Attention Deficit Disorder-Hyperactivity and Academic Failure: Which Comes First and What Should Be Treated?

https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-198805000-00009Get rights and content

Abstract

Evidence on the relationship between attention deficit disorder-hyperactivity (ADDH) and learning difficulties is reviewed in the light of: (1) the degree of overlap between the two disorders, (2) possible causal directions between the two, and (3) the appropriate focus of treatment. The evidence suggests a substantial overlap in prevalence between the two types of disorder and that there is no qualitatively distinct pattern of cognitive deficits associated with each disorder. Furthermore, what longitudinal data there are suggest that learning difficulties lead to ADDH rather than the reverse. Finally, the appropriate focus of treatment would seem to be the learning difficulties of the child with ADDH. The authors recommend more longitudinal research on the relationship between ADDH and learning difficulties, particularly in terms of the potential behavioral effects of treating learning difficulties.

REFERENCES (103)

  • J. Anderson et al.

    The prevalence of DSM III disorders in a large sample of pre-adolescent children from the general population

    Arch. Gen. Psychiatry

    (1987)
  • L.E. Arnold et al.

    Prevention by specific perceptual remediation for vulnerable first-graders

    Arch. Gen. Psychiatry

    (1977)
  • L.E. Arnold et al.

    Letter to the editor

    Arch. Gen. Psychiatry

    (1978)
  • L.E. Arnold et al.

    Methylphenidate vs dextroamphetamine vs caffeine in minimal brain dysfunction

    Arch. Gen. Psychiatry

    (1978)
  • L.E. Arnold et al.

    Specific perceptual remediation

    Psychol. Rep.

    (1981)
  • T. Ayllon et al.

    Eliminating discipline problems by strengthening academic performance

    J. Appl. Behav. Anal.

    (1974)
  • T. Ayllon et al.

    A behavioural-educational alternative to drug control of hyperactive children

    J. Appl. Behav. Anal.

    (1975)
  • R.A. Barkley et al.

    A self-control classroom for hyperactive children

    J. Autism Dev. Disord.

    (1980)
  • L. Bradley et al.

    Categorising sounds and learning to read: a causal connection

    Nature

    (1983)
  • D.E. Brent et al.

    Response cost and impulsive word recognition errors in reading-disabled children

    J. Abnorm. Child Psychol.

    (1978)
  • R.T. Brown et al.

    Methylphenidate and cognitive therapy: a comparison of treatment approaches with hyperactive boys

    J. Abnorm. Child Psychol.

    (1985)
  • R.T. Brown et al.

    Methylphenidate and cognitive therapy with ADD children: a methodological reconsideration

    J. Abnorm. Child Psychol.

    (1986)
  • D.M. Buss et al.

    Preschool activity level: personality correlates and developmental implications

    Child Dev.

    (1980)
  • I.A. Butkowsky et al.

    Cognitive-motivational characteristics of children varying in reading ability: evidence for learned helplessness in poor readers

    Journal of Educational Psychology

    (1980)
  • S.B. Campbell et al.

    A three-year follow-up of hyperactive preschoolers into elementary school

    J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry

    (1977)
  • S.B. Campbell et al.

    Attention deficit disorder (hyperactivity)

  • C.L. Carlson et al.

    Direct assessment of the cognitive correlates of attention deficit disorders with and without hyperactivity

    Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment

    (1986)
  • L. Charles et al.

    A four-year follow-up study of the effects of methylphenidate on the behaviour and academic achievement of hyperactive children

    J. Abnorm. Child Psychol.

    (1981)
  • S. Chess et al.

    Temperament: its significance for early schooling

    New York University Educational Quarterly

    (1976)
  • C.K. Connor et al.

    Pemoline, methylphenidate and placebo in children with minimal brain dysfunction

    Arch. Gen. Psychiatry

    (1980)
  • C.E. Cunningham et al.

    The role of academic failure in hyperactive behaviour

    Journal of Learning Disabilities

    (1978)
  • M.B. Denckla et al.

    Few CT scan abnormalities found even in neurologically impaired learning disabled children

    Journal of Learning Disabilities

    (1985)
  • V. DiLollo et al.

    Initial stages of visual information processing in dyslexia

    J. Exp. Psychol.

    (1983)
  • V.I. Douglas

    Treatment and training approaches to hyperactivity: establishing internal or external control

  • S. Draeger et al.

    Visual and auditory attention performance in hyperactive children: competence or compliance

    J. Abnorm. Child Psychol.

    (1986)
  • R.A. Dykman et al.

    Selective and sustained attention in hyperactive, learning disabled and normal boys

    J. Nerv. Ment. Dis.

    (1979)
  • B.G. Eastman et al.

    Cognitive self-instruction for the control of impulsive classroom behaviour: ensuring the treatment package

    J. Abnorm. Child Psychol.

    (1981)
  • D. Faust et al.

    The empiricist and his new clothes: DSM III in perspective

    Am. J. Psychiatry

    (1986)
  • G. Friedling et al.

    Teaching self-instruction to hyperactive children: a replication

    J. Appl. Behav. Anal.

    (1979)
  • K.D. Gadow

    Effects of stimulant drugs on academic performance in hyperactive and learning disabled children

    Journal of Learning Disabilities

    (1983)
  • R. Gittelman

    Letter to the editor

    Arch. Gen. Psychiatry

    (1978)
  • R. Gittelman et al.

    Children with reading disorders-I. Efficacy of reading remediation

    J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry

    (1983)
  • R. Gittelman et al.

    Psychopharmacotherapy

  • R. Gittelman-Klein et al.

    Are behavioural and psychometric changes related in methylphenidate-treated, hyperactive children?

    International Journal of Mental Health

    (1975)
  • R. Gittelman-Klein et al.

    Methylphenidate effects in learning disabilities: psychometric changes

    Arch. Gen. Psychiatry

    (1976)
  • T. Glynn

    Building an effective teaching environment

  • C.F. Halverson et al.

    Relations between preschool activity and aspects of intellectual and social behavior at age 7 1/2

    Dev. Psychol.

    (1976)
  • R. Hartley

    Imagine you're clever

    J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry

    (1986)
  • P.A. Haubrich et al.

    Attending behaviour and academic performance of emotionally disturbed children

    Except. Child.

    (1976)
  • L. Hechtman

    Adolescent outcome of hyperactive children treated with stimulants in childhood: a review

    Psychopharmacol. Bull.

    (1985)
  • Cited by (0)

    The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit is supported by the Medical Research Council of New Zealand and the Departments of Education and Health and involves several departments of the University of Otago.

    Dr. Share was supported in this research by a Neil Hamilton Fairley Fellowship (National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia).

    View full text