Hyperkinesis and Learning Disabilities Linked to Artificial Food Flavors and Colors

Hyperkinesis and learning disabilities (H-LD) affect millions of children throughout the world. Hyperkinesis (hyperactivity) is not a precise and distinct clinical entity but, rather, a constellation of signs and symptoms. While there are many characteristics of this behavioral disorder, the disturbance is commonly labeled the hyperkinetic syndrome or the hyperkinetic impulse syndrome, since hyperactivity is usually the dominant feature. Some children, however, are not