§ Jonathan ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has undertaken on the causes of (a) ADHD and (b) dyslexia. [70153]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Department's policy research programme has not commissioned any research on dyslexia and hyperactivity. However the National Health Service research and development programme, under the direction of Sir John Pattison, has commissioned two studies which are now complete;The effects of dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder Professor Harry Zietlin), Eastern Regional Office, July 2000, and Visual, auditory and biochemical function in neuro-developmental disorders: dyslexia, AD/HD and related schizophrenic disorders (Dr. A Richardson), London Regional Office, December 1999.
§ Jonathan ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department defines dyslexia as (a) a medical and (b) an educational/learning disorder. [70154]
§ Jacqui SmithThe World Health Organisation ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders in children and adolescents lists developmental dyslexia under the heading 'specific reading disorder' and is further classified under 'specific disorders of psychological development' and not under 'medical conditions'. We do not regard dyslexia as a medical condition but a specific disorder of psychological development.
Learning difficulties such as dyslexia fall within the scope of the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice, published by the Department for Education and Skills in November 2001.
§ Jonathan ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Department is taking to treat diagnosed(a) children and (b) adults with (i) ADHD and (ii) dyslexia. [70152]
§ Jacqui SmithAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is mainly a condition of childhood which can continue into later life. The assessment and treatment of ADHD is usually undertaken by child psychiatrists often with the help and contribution of other members of multidisciplinary child mental health services. However, it is becoming increasingly common for paediatricians to diagnose and manage ADHD. It is recommended that interventions should be focused on the behaviour of the child; family interactions, classroom problems and learning difficulties should also 489W be offered. Even children diagnosed as having hyperkinetic disorder, which is the more severe and specific end of the spectrum, where the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recommended the use of methylphenidate, a treatment programme should not usually rely on medication alone.
Learning difficulties such as dyslexia fall within the scope of the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice, published by the Department for Education and Skills in November 2001.
§ Jonathan ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with(a) ADHD and (b) dyslexia. [70151]
§ Jacqui SmithInformation is not collected in the form requested. However a survey of the mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain by the Office of National Statistics for the Department of Health, published in 2000, found the prevalence of hyperkinetic disorders which includes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as being 1.5 per cent. of children in England aged 10–15.
It also examined the prevalence of specific learning difficulties in children with a mental disorder and vice versa. The survey defined specific learning difficulty as the failure to achieve academic progress in reading (therefore including dyslexia) and spelling despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence and sociocultural opportunity.
Children with a mental disorder were found three times more likely than those with no disorder to have a specific learning difficulty: 12 per cent. compared with 4 per cent. However there was little difference in the proportions of children with specific learning difficulty by type of disorder for example emotional disorder, conduct disorder, ADHD and less common disorders.