[Attentional impairment in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity]

ABSTRACT

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] is a heterogeneous disorder currently defined by clinical history and behavioral report of impairment. The Attention Network test [ANT] gives measures of different aspects of the complex process of attention. We ask if children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD] will show a characteristic pattern of deficits on this test. The sample included 40 children [M=9 years] who performed the Attention network test". Children with an ADHD diagnosis [N=20] were compared to a control group [N=20]. The group of children with ADND showed slower reaction times in all conditions [mean RT=866sns; SD=234, 063]. Children with ADHD showed a significant impairment in their executive control system compared to healthy subjects, with slower reaction times in incongruent conditions and lower accuracy scores [RT=1064 ms; F[1.38] p=0.02]]. Our results showed that spatial orienting and alerting in ADHD was no different than controls [p=0, 68]. ADHD group showed a greater variable response [p=0, 0001]. The present study showed that impairment in executive control system and variability measures are the characteristic pattern of deficits in children with ADHD