Studying In Japan

OSAKA - A recently published book offers easy-to-understand information on orthostatic dysregulation, a physiological condition found in about 10 percent of primary, middle and high school students that causes lethargy in the morning, a symptom that is often wrongly interpreted as simple laziness.

Children with the disorder have difficulty getting out of bed early in the morning, but overcome the symptoms by the afternoon. The condition most commonly affects children during adolescence.

Hidetaka Tanaka, an associate professor of Osaka Medical College and director of the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Pediatrics, offers in his book information in layman's terms on therapy and support techniques for children with the condition.

Tanaka, whose 20-year-old daughter suffered from orthostatic dysregulation, said he hopes the book will help parents and teachers to better understand the disorder.

Published by Chuohoki Publishers Co., "Kiritsusei Chosetsu Shogai no Kodomo no Tadashii Rikai to Taio" (Correct Understanding of and Response to Children with Orthostatic Dysfunction) introduces four types of orthostatic dysregulation, classified by diagnostic criteria set by the society in 2006.

They include orthostatic hypotonia, in which blood pressure falls rapidly when a person rises to stand and takes at least 25 seconds to recover, and postural tachycardia syndrome, which is indicated by a rapid increase in one's pulse by more than 35 beats per minute when standing.

According to the book, many children with orthostatic dysregulation suffer because they are wrongly judged as lazy, yet are unable to talk about their disorder with anyone.

Orthostatic dysregulation can be easily diagnosed by a specialist, the book says.

Tanaka's daughter complained of symptoms indicating orthostatic dysregulation when she was in her second year of middle school. Although the book does not mention it, the difficulties the condition caused her were not well understood by her classmates or teachers.

Her symptoms were so severe that she could not attend regular high school classes. However, she passed a high school equivalency test and is now attending an art college, and in fact created the cover art for her father's book.

She said: "I tried hard [to cope with the disorder], but my physical symptoms were too strong. I appreciate the fact that my parents didn't pressure me [to struggle through school]."

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