e., medication). Even the educational programming proposed by Strauss and Lehtinen (1948) that involved destimulating the learning environment was based on beliefs about brain functioning.
A continuing problem for the proponents of a "brain damage" or "brain malfunctioning" hypothesis, is the lack of adequate and direct supportive evidence. For example, one study considered 100 children referred to a clinic with hyperactivity s one of the complaints (Kenny et al., 1971). Neurological findings were considered normal in over half of the children. Forty-eight children evidenced "soft" neurological signs. The authors reported that a significant relationship was not obtained among the neurological examination, electroencephalograph findings, and final diagnosis.
Despite such findings as the Kenny et al. Study, a number of experts have maintained an organic view of the condition (Cruikshank, 1967; Solomons, 1971). Safer and Allen (1976) reviewed a potpourri of historical and developmental features that distinguish between hyperactive and non-hyperactive children. A number of these features potentially relate causally or are associated, otherwise with organic problems. These include a higher rate of prematurity, more frequent respiratory disorders after the delivery, and more vaginal bleeding and preeclampsia for mothers of hyperactives. Hyperactive children also experience more congenital disorders. In contrast to proponents of an "organic" position, Chess (1960) believed that only 15 percent of hyperactivity involved neurological factors, while Schmitt (1974) attributed only 1 percent of hyperactivity to organic factors.
Thomas et al. (1968) spoke to the relationship of hyperactivity and brain damage in a way that may add some light to the controversy.
"The consequences of brain damage in childhood have tended to be discussed as though there regularly appears a single syndrome characterized by hyper kinesis, distractibility, perseveration, perceptual disturbance, emotional lability, atypical cognitive functioning, and disturbances in impulse control.
