Hyperactivity: a current assessment.

Hyperactivity in children is frequently overdiagnosed and inappropriately managed. When a syndrome of hyperactive behavior associated with learning difficulties is established, aggressive multifaceted management is indicated. Many possible etiologies have been suggested, but none of these has yet been proven. It may well be that more than one etiology exists and that many children have multiple factors contributing to their illness. None of the nontraditional therapies recently receiving attention, such as the Feingold diet, have had any proven benefit, although scattered anecdotal reports and some recent controlled trials suggest that some nontraditional therapies may be of limited value in some children. The most important consideration in therapy is that of defining specific problem areas for each individual child and assuring that each is dealt with appropriately. Caution must be exercised to avoid the pitfall of using drugs as the sole modality of treatment. Finally, parental education must never be overlooked.