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Hypothesis For Prediction Of Stimulant Drug Effectiveness Utilizing Sensory Integrative Diagnostic Methods, Judith Giencke Kimball

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Despite extensive research, there has been no way to predict before drug administration which children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) will respond to medication intended to calm them. A drug trial is the current method used. This paper discusses the action of stimulant medications and presents a hypothesis as to why they work on some children and not others. Sensory integration theory, particularly on vestibular system measures, that involves differential diagnosis of certain types of ADHD children, is used to explain why some children respond to stimulant medications.