Association between reported ADHD symptom and motor development delay in preschool children
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Zhijun Cui1, Shijie Li1, Aimin Liang1
1Department of Child Health Care Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Insights
Preschool children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) show higher risks of fine motor delays. Motor development is linked to ADHD symptom severity, highlighting the need for monitoring in affected children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in preschool children.
- Motor development, encompassing gross and fine motor skills, is crucial for overall child development.
- Previous research suggests potential links between ADHD and motor deficits, but specific associations in preschool populations require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between motor developmental levels and the severity of parent-reported ADHD symptoms in preschool children.
- To differentiate motor development patterns in children diagnosed with ADHD versus those without.
- To explore age-specific correlations between motor skills and ADHD symptom severity.
Main Methods:
- Recruited preschool children (4-6 years) with reported inattention or hyperactivity.
- Assessed neuromotor development using the Children's Neuropsychological and Behavior Scale (DQ scores).
- Evaluated ADHD symptoms using parent-completed questionnaires (Conners' Parent Symptom Questionnaire and Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale) based on DSM-V criteria.
Main Results:
- Children with ADHD symptoms had a higher risk of fine motor delays compared to gross motor delays, especially in younger children (4-year-olds).
- In 4-year-olds with ADHD, better gross motor development correlated with increased symptom severity.
- In 5-year-olds with ADHD, poorer fine motor development correlated with higher symptom severity. No significant motor-ADHD symptom correlations were found in children without ADHD.
Conclusions:
- Preschool children diagnosed with ADHD exhibit a significant risk for fine motor delays.
- Motor development, both gross and fine, is associated with the severity of ADHD symptoms in preschool-aged children.
- Continuous monitoring of fine and gross motor development is recommended for preschool children diagnosed with ADHD.
Objective:
To explore whether the motor developmental level is associated with the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms severity reported by parents in preschool children.
Methods:
Preschool children aged 4-6 years old with the chief complaint of reported inattention or hyperactivity by kindergarten teachers or parents were recruited in this study. All participants were consulted by at least one experienced developmental behavior pediatrician, according to DSM-V diagnostic criteria of ADHD. Their neuromotor developments were assessed by the Children's Neuropsychological and Behavior Scale and recorded as developmental quotient (DQ) score in gross motor, fine motor, and other domains. Regarding the evaluation of ADHD symptoms, parents of the 4-year-old group completed the Conners' Parent Symptom Questionnaire, while parents of the 5-year-old group completed The Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale.
Results:
A total of 137 preschool children aged 4-4.9 years (4-year-old group) and 252 were aged 5.0-5.9 years (5-year-old group) were included in the study. Children exhibiting ADHD symptoms were at a much higher risk of fine motor delays compared to gross motor delays, particularly among the younger age group. Correlation analysis and hierarchical regression showed that in the 4-year-old ADHD group, better gross motor development was associated with increased severity of parent-reported ADHD symptoms. In the 5-year-old ADHD group, poorer fine motor development was linked to higher ADHD symptom severity. For children who do not meet ADHD diagnostic criteria, no significant correlations were found between gross or fine motor developmental quotients (DQ) and the severity of ADHD symptoms.
Conclusions:
Preschool children exhibiting ADHD symptoms are at a notable high risk of fine motor delays. Motor development in preschool children who meet ADHD diagnostic criteria is related to the severity of their symptoms. It is important to monitor both fine and gross motor development in preschool children with ADHD.
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