Attention Deficits in Children With Combined Autism and ADHD

Lundervold, Astri J.; Stickert, Marte; Hysing, Mari; Sørensen, Lin; Gillberg, Christopher; Posserud, Maj-Britt

doi:10.1177/1087054712453168

Cited by 48 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 62 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, most prior studies have had modest sample sizes, lacked consideration of a range of potentially confounding factors, and have focused on children of school-age or older (Ehlers et al 1997; Geurts et al 2004; Corbett and Constantine 2006; Lundervold et al 2012; Jang et al 2013; Rao and Landa 2014). The few studies focusing on young children have been based on clinically-ascertained samples (Visser et al 2016), which likely have limited generalizability given noted skewed severity distributions in such samples (Rao and Landa 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inattention and hyperactivity in association with autism spectrum disorders in the CHARGE study

Lyall

Schweitzer

Schmidt

et al. 2017

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Attention deficits in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not well understood. This study sought to determine: 1) the prevalence of ADHD symptoms in young children with ASD, typical development (TD), and developmental delay (DD) and 2) the association between ADHD symptoms and cognitive and behavioral functioning in children with ASD. Method ADHD symptoms, defined according to Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) hyperactivity subscale scores, were compared across children aged 2–5 from a large case-control study with ASD (n=548), TD (n=423), and DD (n=180). Inattention and hyperactivity items within this subscale were also explored. Within the ASD group, linear and logistic regression were used to examine how ADHD symptoms were associated with cognition as assessed by the Mullen Scales of Early Learning and adaptive functioning as assessed by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Results Mean hyperactivity subscale scores were lowest in children with TD (mean=3.19), higher in children with DD (12.3), and highest in children with ASD (18.2; between-group p<0.001). Among children with ASD, significant associations were observed with higher ADHD symptoms and poorer adaptive and cognitive functioning (adjusted beta for hyperactivity score in association with: Vineland composite = −5.63, p=0.0005; Mullen visual reception scale = −2.94, p=0.02; for the highest vs. lowest quartile of hyperactivity score, odds of lowest quintile of these scores was approximately doubled). Exploratory analyses highlighted associations with inattention-related items specifically. Conclusion These results suggest ADHD symptoms may play a key role in the functioning of young children with ASD.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inattention and hyperactivity in association with autism spectrum disorders in the CHARGE study

Lyall

Schweitzer

Schmidt

et al. 2017

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The ASD group with ADHD was found to have more problems in inhibitory performance but not in the working memory task compared to the ASD group without ADHD symptoms [18] . The combination of ASD and ADHD has also been associated with poorer attention than ASD alone [19] . Thus, ADHD symptoms have been suggested to have an additive effect on EF.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive inflexibility in Japanese adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders

Yasuda¹

2014

WJP

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

AIM:To investigate executive function in Japanese adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) compared to Japanese controls. METHODS:Thirty-three individuals with ASD and 33 controls participated. The ASD and control groups' demographic variables were matched for gender (male/ female: 20/13 vs 20/13), age (26.1 ± 11.5 vs 26.8 ± 9.6), years of education (13.2 ± 2.9 vs 14.2 ± 1.9), full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) (103.0 ± 16.7 vs 103.7 ± 14.7), performance IQ (96.2 ± 16.1 vs 97.8 ± 15.0), and verbal IQ (107.9 ± 16.3 vs 107.7 ± 14.4).Participants performed the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), which assesses the executive processes involved in problem solving and cognitive flexibility, and the Continuous Performance Test (CPT), which assesses attention and impulsivity. Symptoms were assessed by the Autism-Spectrum Quotient Japanese version (AQ-J). First, we compared the scores of the WCST between the groups using a Mann-Whitney U -test and conducted an analysis of covariance for the variables with the scores of category archives and CPT scores as covariates. Second, we analyzed the correlation between the scores of the WCST and the AQ-J in the ASD group using Pearson's r. RESULTS:The total errors (TE) and the percentages of perseverative errors of the Milner type (%PEM) and Nelson type (%PEN) among the TE in the ASD group were significantly worse compared with the control group (ASD vs Control, respectively: TE: 16.0 ± 6.2 vs 12.6 ± 3.5, P = 0.012; %PEM: 11.7 ± 10.7 vs 6.6 ± 8.9, P = 0.037; %PEN: 20.1 ± 14.5 vs 8.7 ± 10.4, P = 0.0011). In contrast, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in the scores of categories achieved on the WCST or the CPT. An analysis of covariance revealed significant differences between the groups in the %PEN scores (P = 0.0062) but not in the TE or the %PEM scores. These results suggest that Japanese adolescents and adults with ASD have cognitive inflexibility. Furthermore, our results suggest that Japanese adolescents and adults with ASD may have difficulties using negative feedback because perseverative errors of the Nelson type indicate persistence in choosing the incorrect reaction. By contrast, there was no significant correlation between the WCST and AQ-J scores. CASE CONTROL STUDY CONCLUSION:We confirmed the presence of cognitive inflexibility in Japanese adolescents and adults with ASD. Our results also indicated that subjects with ASD may not use negative feedback effectively. Core tip: We investigated executive function (EF) in Japanese adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) compared to strictly matched controls. EF was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. To exclude confounding factors, the participants were matched for gender, age, years of education, fullscale intelligence quotient (IQ), performance IQ, verbal IQ, and attention level. Symptoms were assessed by the Autism-Spectrum Quotient Japanese version. We confirm that Japanese adolescents and adults with ASD have cognitive inflexibilit...

show abstract

“…Results suggested that children with ASD+ADHD had an "additive" profile rather having a qualitatively distinct distinctive pattern of deficits. Similarly, Lundervold et al (2016) found that the ASD+ADHD group had a higher variability. Adamo et al (2014) assessed the influence of comorbidity on response time intra-subject variability (RT-ISV), in children with ASD, ASD+ADHD, ADHD and TD using a sustained attention task.…”

Section: Attentionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Moreover, examining different attentional constructs, children with ASD+ADHD differed from TD children especially on sustained attention and alertness (Adamo et al, 2014;Andersen et al, 2013;Sinzig et al, 2008a;Lundervold et al, 2016;Tye et al, 2014). Some studies evidence that the comorbid group is the group with the most pronounced brain function abnormalities (Chantiluke et al, 2014) and more impaired on daily-life executive functioning (Dajani et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gomarus, Wijers, Minderaa and Althaus (2009) found no significant differences between the ASD+ADHD and both ASD, ADHD on selective attention. Five studies demonstrated that ASD+ADHD and ADHD groups tend to have more attention problems compared to the ASD group (Adamo et al, 2014;Andersen, Hovik, Skogli, Egeland, & Øie, 2013;Sinzig, Bruning, Morsch, & Lehmkuhl, 2008a;Lundervold et al, 2016;Tye et al, 2014). Additionally only one study found that ASD+ADHD and ASD groups tend to have more attention problems compared to the ADHD group (Geurts et al, 2008 Tye et al (2014) examined in an event-related potential study attention problems and inhibition using a flanker cued continuous performance test (CPT Flanker) in a neurophysiological study.…”

Section: Attentionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Review of Executive Functions in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Berenguer¹,

Miranda²,

Leader³

2018

JEDP

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two of the most common childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorders. Literature has shown different patterns of deficits in executive functioning in children with ASD and ADHD. To date few studies have examined executive functions in both ASD and ADHD and with mixed results.The current study provides the first systematic review to explore distinct executive function components (attention problems, response inhibition, working memory, planning and flexibility) that underlie the specific deficits seen in children and adolescents with both ASD and ADHD disorders. Findings provide evidence for executive dysfunctions across different key components such as attention, response inhibition and verbal working memory in children and adolescents with ASD and comorbid ADHD clinical symptoms. This research explores the neurocognitive profile of the comorbid condition, which is also critical for designing appropriate interventions.

show abstract

Attention Deficits in Children With Combined Autism and ADHD

Abstract: The findings underscore the importance of including measures of attention and intellectual function when assessing children with the combination of ASD and ADHD.

Cited by 48 publications

References 62 publications

Inattention and hyperactivity in association with autism spectrum disorders in the CHARGE study

Inattention and hyperactivity in association with autism spectrum disorders in the CHARGE study

Cognitive inflexibility in Japanese adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders

A Review of Executive Functions in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About