Motor ability and adaptive function in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neuropsychiatric disorder. Previous studies have reported that children with ADHD exhibit deficits of adaptive function and insufficient motor ability. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between adaptive function and motor ability in children with ADHD compared with a group of normal children. The study group included 25 children with ADHD (19 boys and 6 girls), aged from 4.6 years to 8.6 years (mean±standard deviation, 6.5±1.2). A group of 24 children without ADHD (normal children) were selected to match the children with ADHD on age and gender. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children, which includes three subtests, was used to assess the motor ability of the children of both groups. The Chinese version of Adaptive Behavior Scales, which consists of 12 life domains, was used to assess adaptive function of the children with ADHD. Compared with the normal children, children with ADHD exhibited poorer motor ability on all the three subtests of motor assessment. In the ADHD group, nine (36%) children had significant motor impairments and seven (28%) were borderline cases. A total of 10 (40%) children with ADHD had definite adaptive problems in one or more adaptive domains. With statistically controlling of IQ for the ADHD group, those children with impaired motor ability had significantly poorer behaviors in the adaptive domain of home living (p=0.035). Moreover, children with ADHD who had severely impaired manual dexterity performed worse than the control group in the adaptive domains of home living (r=-0.47, p=0.018), socialization (r=-0.49, p=0.013), and self-direction (r=-0.41, p=0.040). In addition, children with poorer ball skills had worse home living behavior (r=-0.56, p=0.003). Children who had more impaired balance exhibited poorer performance in social behavior (r=-0.41, p=0.040). This study found significant correlation between motor ability and adaptive function in children with ADHD, especially in their adaptive domains of home living, socialization, and self-direction. In clinical settings, identification of motor difficulties may have important implications for the understanding of relative factors in effective management of the adaptive dysfunction in children with ADHD.

Evidence for Specificity of Motor Impairments in Catching and Balance in Children with Autism

“…In addition, the first hypothesis was further supported in that children in the ASD group demonstrated greater overall motor impairment compared to children with ADHD. These findings are generally consistent with previous reports suggesting that motor impairment is more severe in ASD than ADHD (Green et al 2009; Wang et al 2011), and may be more strongly associated with social symptomatology uniquely seen in ASD (Papadopoulos et al 2012; Dziuk et al 2007; Dowell et al 2009). With that said, in this sample children with ADHD showed significant deficits as compared to typically developing children on performance-based motor assessment.…”

“…As hypothesized and consistent with previous literature (e.g., Green et al 2009; Wang et al 2011; Watemberg et al 2007), both the ASD and the ADHD groups in this study evidenced motor impairment compared to the TD group based on overall performance on the MABC-2. In addition, the first hypothesis was further supported in that children in the ASD group demonstrated greater overall motor impairment compared to children with ADHD.…”

“…Additionally, Jansiewicz et al (2006) found high positive (82.2 %) and negative (87.5 %) predictive power of motor assessment (using the Physical and Neurological Exam for Subtle Signs: PANESS) in differentiating between children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children. Lower prevalence of motor impairment is described for children with ADHD, with 36 % of children with ADHD demonstrating significant motor impairment on the M-ABC, with an additional 28 % scoring in the borderline range (Wang et al 2011). Other reports have purported that up to 55 % of children with ADHD meet criteria for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD; Watemberg et al 2007), which may be more evident for children with the inattentive subtype (64.3 % compared with 11 % for the hyperactive/impulsive type).…”

“…For instance, Wang et al (2011) reported that children with ADHD exhibited poorer motor ability on all three domains of the M-ABC compared to typically developing (TD) children. Other examination supports the notion of more widespread motor deficits in ADHD.…”

Motor development of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

“…23 It is important to highlight the significant association between the children's static/dynamic balance ability and socialization behaviors in ADHD, even though this relationship still requires further research so that the underlying causes or mediating factors can be determined. 24 Children with ADHD also performed in the low classification ranges for spatial and temporal organization, which is in line with a previous study by Poeta et al 9 The spatial organization tasks involve processes of localization, orientation, visual-spatial recognition, perception of distance, and speed. 8 ADHD is associated with anomalous laterality and these individuals are not only characterized by a shift in handedness, but may be better described as exhibiting a more general condition of lateralization.…”