Diagnosis and Intervention: A Summing-Up

Abstract

From the information available on hyperactivity, the accepted viewpoint here is that the term hyperactivity refers to a set of symptoms that reflect a variety of possible causes. The symptoms—inattentiveness, impulsivity, physical overactivity, excitability, and distractibility—are often present in early childhood, thereby giving credence to the concept of a develop- mentally based, constitutional hyperactivity. But, the symptoms may also appear after age four or five, thereby offering support for the view of a psychologically based hyper-reactivity. Some experts still believe that there is an organic basis to hyperactivity (i.e., brain damage, cerebral dysfunction, neurological impairment, etc.,); however, there is limited data, via neurological study, to support this position among the majority of children labelled hyperactive. More recently, diet factors have been presented as a possible cause of hyperactivity. The scientific literature, however, remains inconclusive as to the incidence and degree of food substance related hyperactivity. Diet, as with the other possible etiological factors, needs to be considered seriously, but may or may not be relevant with a given child.