ADHD Medication Improves Test Scores

Recent research published in the May issue of Pediatrics--Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics--shows improved standardized reading and math scores in a nationally-representative, longitudinal sample of 594 school children from kindergarten through grade 5.

As reported by Tara Parker-Pope, in her New York Times' health blog (A.D.H.D. Drugs Linked to Higher Test Scores, April 27, 2009):

Children with attention deficit problems make bigger academic gains if they are taking stimulant medications compared to similar kids who aren’t receiving drug therapy...

She quotes the study's first author, Richard Scheffler, Ph.D., from the University of California, Berkeley's School of Public Health:

I think the findings are important because this is the first time that we’ve had objective educational performance measures, to look at whether kids who are taking medications for A.D.H.D. compared to kids who are not, that actually show that they are doing better.

For details, see the journal article's abstract -- Positive Association Between Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder Medication Use and Academic Achievement During Elementary School. The full article is available on-line to journal subscribers or for a single-use fee.