Normative ADHD-RS-Preschool Data in a Community Sample in Spain.

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Psychometric Validation

Background:

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder impacting preschool children.
• Accurate assessment tools are crucial for early detection and intervention.
• The ADHD Rating Scale-IV-Preschool Version (ADHD-RS-IV-P) requires cultural adaptation and norming for diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To obtain normalized data for the ADHD-RS-IV-P in a Spanish preschool sample.
• To validate the culturally adapted ADHD-RS-IV for use in Spain.
• To establish reliability and identify demographic influences on scoring.

Main Methods:

• Translation and cultural adaptation of the ADHD-RS-IV.
• Data collection from a representative sample of 1,426 Spanish preschool children (ages 3 to <7).
• Statistical analysis including MANOVA for evaluator differences and Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency.

Main Results:

• The adapted ADHD-RS-IV demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha .86–.96).
• A significant effect of sex was observed in the ratings.
• Normalized data were successfully obtained for the Spanish preschool population.

Conclusions:

• Sex-standardized scores are necessary for reliable ADHD assessment in preschoolers.
• The validated ADHD-RS-IV-P is a valuable tool for early ADHD detection in educational and primary care settings.
• Cultural adaptation enhances the utility of diagnostic instruments across different populations.