Household task demands for quiet and focused behavior facilitate performance by ADHD youth.

This study evaluated the associations among symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in children and adolescents' performance in household tasks and assistance provided by caregivers. Parents of children from 6 to 14 years old with ADHD (n = 67) were interviewed with the Children Helping Out: Responsibilities, Expectations, and Supports (CHORES) instrument. Significant correlations were found between symptoms of ODD and assistance in self-care tasks (r = -0.31; p = 0.01); symptoms of hyperactivity correlated with assistance in self-care (r = -0.30, p = 0.01); and family-care (r = -0.25, p = 0.04) tasks. Age was directly associated with the number of tasks performed by children and inversely related to the assistance provided by caregivers. A greater number of ODD symptoms resulted in more household assistance from caregivers. Characteristics of ODD symptoms, such as disobedience and hostility in the face of authority, may limit these children in accessing household tasks by their own initiative, requiring assistance from caregivers.

Household task demands for quiet and focused behavior facilitate performance by ADHD youth / Demandas de tarefas domésticas por comportamento quieto e focado facilitam o desempenho de jovens com TDAH

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the associations among symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in children and adolescents’ performance in household tasks and assistance provided by caregivers. Parents of children from 6 to 14 years old with ADHD (n = 67) were interviewed with the Children Helping Out: Responsibilities, Expectations, and Supports (CHORES) instrument. Significant correlations were found between symptoms of ODD and assistance in self-care tasks (r = −0.31; p = 0.01); symptoms of hyperactivity correlated with assistance in self-care (r = −0.30, p = 0.01); and family-care (r = −0.25, p = 0.04) tasks. Age was directly associated with the number of tasks performed by children and inversely related to the assistance provided by caregivers. A greater number of ODD symptoms resulted in more household assistance from caregivers. Characteristics of ODD symptoms, such as disobedience and hostility in the face of authority, may limit these children in accessing household tasks by their own initiative, requiring assistance from caregivers.

RESUMO Este estudo avaliou transversalmente a correlação entre sintomas de transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (TDAH) e de oposição com desempenho de crianças e adolescentes nas tarefas domésticas e assistência disponibilizada pelos cuidadores. Pais de crianças e adolescentes com TDAH (n = 67), de 6 a 14 anos, foram entrevistados com o children helping out: responsibilities, expectations and supports (CHORES). Foram encontradas correlações significativas entre sintomas de oposição e assistência em cuidado próprio (r = -0,31; p = 0,01) e de hiperatividade com assistência em cuidado próprio (r = -0,30, p = 0,01) e em cuidado familiar (r = -0,25, p = 0,04). Idade está diretamente correlacionada ao número de tarefas desempenhadas pela criança e inversamente associada à assistência disponibilizada pelos cuidadores. Maior número de sintomas de oposição resultou em maior assistência disponibilizada. Características dos sintomas de oposição, como a desobediência e hostilidade frente às autoridades, são limitantes para que essas crianças acessem as tarefas por iniciativa própria, demandando maior assistência dos cuidadores.

How do children and caregivers perceive their experience of undergoing the CIMT protocol?

OBJECTIVE: Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is an effective intervention to improve hand function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). However, some of its features, including the restraining of the unaffected arm and the intensive training, may result in stressful experiences for children and interfere with family routine. This study aimed to document the perceptions of children with CP and their caregivers regarding the experience of undergoing the CIMT protocol. METHODS: Qualitative data were collected from semi-structured interviews conducted with five children with CP and their caregivers (n = 6). Content analysis structured and summarized data into two emergent categories: (i) Perception of children and caregivers about CIMT implementation procedures; (ii) Occupational performance before and after the CIMT protocol. The interviews' content revealed that children and caregivers recognized the benefits of CIMT, including increased use of the affected arm and decreased need for assistance; they believed that these gains outweighed the difficulties they experienced in daily routine.