title: Methylphenidate improves reading performance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and comorbid dyslexia: an unblinded clinical trial.
abstract: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia are frequently co-occurring disorders. Although methylphenidate (MPH) is the primary treatment for ADHD, the effect on reading in children with these comorbid problems is not yet known. This study was an unblinded clinical trial to evaluate the reading performance before and after treatment with MPH. Reading performance was compared with General Linear Model repeated measures between three groups: (1) an experimental group of children with both ADHD and dyslexia (N = 24), (2) a control group of children with ADHD (N = 9) and (3) a control group of children with dyslexia (N = 10). MPH improved reading performance significantly stronger in the experimental group than in the control groups; the number of correctly read words increased to a larger extent. In conclusion, MPH proved to be an aid in the reading process of children with ADHD and comorbid dyslexia by improving the learning conditions, but MPH cannot cure the reading disorder. Future research should study the effect of MPH on reading in a double-blind clinical trial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Brain and Behaviour Institute, Maastricht University, Dr. Tanslaan 12, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. e.keulers@np.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: Esther H H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Keulers
authors.forename: Jos G M
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hendriksen
authors.forename: Frans J M
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Feron
authors.forename: Renske
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wassenberg
authors.forename: Mea G F
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Wuisman-Frerker
authors.forename: Jelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jolles
authors.forename: Johan S H
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Vles
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate