Early and Concurrent Features of ADHD and Sensory Over-Responsivity Symptom Clusters

Area of Science:

• Child psychology
• Developmental neuroscience
• Clinical psychology

Background:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sensory over-responsivity (SOR) are common neurodevelopmental concerns in children.
• Understanding the co-occurrence and distinct trajectories of these symptoms is crucial for targeted interventions.
• Previous research suggests varying degrees of overlap between ADHD and SOR, but longitudinal characterization remains important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize distinct developmental clusters of children based on co-occurring ADHD and SOR symptoms.
• To compare the early childhood markers associated with these identified school-age symptom clusters.
• To examine the longitudinal consistency of ADHD and SOR symptom presentations.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study involving 922 infants assessed at multiple early childhood time points using the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (ITSEA).
• Utilized ITSEA Sensory Sensitivity, Attention, and Activity/Impulsivity scales in early childhood.
• Employed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and SensOR inventory for ADHD and SOR symptom assessment during elementary school age.

Main Results:

• Four distinct school-age clusters were identified: SOR only, ADHD only, combined ADHD + SOR, and low symptoms.
• Children in the SOR and ADHD + SOR clusters exhibited higher early sensory sensitivity scores compared to ADHD-only and low-symptom clusters.
• Early attention and activity/impulsivity scores differentiated the ADHD and ADHD + SOR clusters from the SOR and low-symptom clusters.

Conclusions:

• Sensory over-responsivity and ADHD symptoms can manifest independently in children.
• These symptom patterns demonstrate consistency over time, suggesting distinct developmental pathways.
• The findings support the differentiation of children with isolated SOR, isolated ADHD, and combined presentations.