Association between reported ADHD symptom and motor development delay in preschool 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.