PROFILE OF THE HYPERKINETIC CHILD

The hyperkinetic child exhibits many characteristics common to the dyslexic child.  Quantitative and qualitative differences are noted below.

CASE HISTORY INFORMATION INDICATES;
1. Greater incidence of illness or injury before, during and after birth.
2. Developmental history somewhat slow but usually within normal limits.
    May learn to talk later and have more gross motor problems than dyslexics.
3. Usually no family history of reading or learning problems.
4. Some pertinent symptoms suggesting neurological impairment.
5. Hyperactivity usually noted quite early - usually before beginning school.

TEST PERFORMANCE INDICATORS;
1.    IQ test spotty - poorer performance on motor tasks, arithmetic, and abstract reasoning.
2.   Gestalt function - destruction of gestalts, overlapping of figures, open figures, additional angles, and/or perseveration may be noted.
3.   Draw-a-Man test - primitive figure well below average for age and indicated IQ, may be "open" figure.
4.   Severe directionality confusion.
5.   Reading ability below normal expected for age and IQ.  Adequate mechanical skills but reduced ability to comprehend what is read.

CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:  Child characterized as-
 1.  Immature
 2.  Slow in finishing work
 3.  Lazy, not trying
 4.  Daydreamer
 5.  Distractible, shifts of activity not indicated by dyslexics
 6.  Inattention more profound for hyperkinetic
 7.  Poor organizing ability, greater difficulty with spatial relationships than the dyslexic
 8.  Extremely poor handwriting
 9.  Clumsy-may fall frequently
10. Poor in all subjects.  Decoding facility in reading may make great strides while comprehension remains poor.
11. Behavior is typically explosive and impulsive.