"Since most hyperactive children have impulse problems, many believe that if you have them count to ten, then react, they will respond better," said Jerrell Cassady, educational psychology professor. "Instead, we believe they should stop, review the situation, think about acceptable outcomes and then react.

"The key is to have the children develop a method to come up with positive ways to handle a situation," he said. "Most have had many failures in social situations. They act anti-social because it fits their life experiences."

Children selected for the study had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which includes significant problems with impulsivity, hyperactivity and poor attention.

ADHD is a neurologically based disorder, not the result of "bad parenting" or obnoxious, willful defiance on the part of the child. About 5 to 12 percent of America's youth have been diagnosed with the disorder.

Cassady's tests included having 17 hyperactive and 17 non-hyperactive children read short stories. Students were then asked what they would do handle the situation.

"In one story the children read about a student who got wet when another student's milk spilled," Cassady said. "Non-hyperactive children gave positive outcomes, such as laughing it off or telling a teacher."

The study found hyperactive children gave negative responses, including fighting, yelling or crying.

"However, when hyperactive children were asked to retell the story and then asked about possible ways to handle the situation, the answers became more positive," he said. "Parents and teachers can use this information to help hyperactive children succeed in social situations. Teaching children to think about what has happened, come up with positive responses, and think ahead to what will happen after they respond is likely to lead to fewer social failures."

By Marc Ransford, Media Relations Manager

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Cassady at jccassady@bsu.edu or (765) 285-8522.)