Presumed Minimal Brain Dysfunction in Children

Abstract

THOSE who study children with behavioral and learning disorders have more frequently in recent years implicated organic factors. From the clinical literature have come references to the hyperkinetic syndrome, the brain-damaged learning and behavior syndrome, the Strauss syndrome,¹ and the minimal cerebral dysfunction syndrome. In Russia, Luria^2,3 has described children with the cerebro-asthenic syndrome who, although of average intelligence, are quite susceptible to fatigue in mental work, unable to concentrate, and easily distracted. He said that after 5 to 10 minutes of mental work, they "begin to exhibit complete incomprehension of the tasks presented by the teacher."³, pp108 111 Educators generally speak of these children as having learning disabilities. Recently, a group of child specialists in this country has agreed upon minimal brain dysfunction (MBD) as a suitable medical diagnostic term.⁴ While we use the term MBD, we recog