Stimulant medication effects on learning in children with mental retardation and ADHD

Forty four children (ages 6-13 years) with moderate mental retardation to borderline intellectual functioning participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, trial of methylphenidate (Ritalin) involving .3 and .6 mg/kg medication doses and a placebo. Sixty six percent of subjects were found to be responders to medication based upon weekday school reports or data obtained while attending a weekly Saturday laboratory classroom. The assessment of medication effects on learning was conducted via a daily work task (number of problems completed and work accuracy) and a short-term auditory memory task. Results indicated beneficial medication effects on work output during the weekday and Saturday program but gains in work accuracy in the weekday classroom only. No significant medication effects were noted on the short-term auditory memory task. Results are consistent with previous research and suggest that children with mental retardation and ADHD require supplemental programming, such as the teaching of specific learning strategies or behavioral interventions, to take full advantage of gains resulting from medication.