ABSTRACT
In 1941 Bradley described the hyperkinetic syndrome as being charac terized by hyperactivity, short attention-span, impulsivity, explosive ness, erratic school performance, and poor social adjustment. The same author in 1951 described the ‘primary, neurophysiologicaP behavioural characteristics of the epileptic child in rather similar terms: erratic variability in mood or behaviour; hyperactivity; irritability; short and vacillating attention-span; and a selective difficulty with mathematics at school. These two descriptions suggest the possibility that the hyperkinetic syndrome may often coincide with epilepsy. In view of the fact that brain damage is a suspected cause of both hyperkinesis and epilepsy, the view that the two conditions may coincide is not implausible.
