Comparing Theta Beta Ratio in Children With Attention-deficit/hyperactive Disorder and Specific Learning Disorder
Fatemeh Gholamali Nezhad1, Mahdieh Sadat Mirmohammad1, Reza Rostami2
1Atieh Clinical Neuroscience Center, Tehran, Iran.
Basic and Clinical Neuroscience
|July 14, 2025
Summary
The theta-to-beta ratio (TBR) did not effectively differentiate children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from those with specific learning disorder (SLD). This EEG measure is not a reliable biomarker for distinguishing these neurodevelopmental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- The theta-to-beta ratio (TBR) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for diagnosing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- The diagnostic utility of TBR, particularly in differentiating ADHD from comorbid conditions like specific learning disorder (SLD), remains under investigation.
- Specific learning disorder (SLD) is a common comorbidity with ADHD, sharing overlapping cognitive deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the theta-to-beta ratio (TBR) in distinguishing between children diagnosed with ADHD and those with SLD.
- To assess whether active EEG-based TBR can serve as a reliable biomarker for differentiating these two neurodevelopmental disorders.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving two groups of school-aged children: one with SLD (n=15) and one with ADHD (n=15).
- Diagnosis for both groups was established through clinical interviews and observations.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded during an active visual continuous performance task (VCPT) to calculate TBR at CZ and Fz sites.
- Cognitive performance measures from the VCPT were also analyzed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in cognitive performance measures (e.g., commission errors, omission errors, reaction time, reaction time variability) between the SLD and ADHD groups.
- Analysis of the theta-to-beta ratio (TBR) also revealed no significant differences between the two groups.
- The findings indicate that TBR does not reliably differentiate between children with ADHD and children with SLD.
Conclusions:
- The theta-to-beta ratio (TBR) is not a sufficiently reliable biomarker to differentiate between psychological disorders characterized by primary cognitive deficits, such as ADHD and SLD.
- These disorders often involve complex demands on attention and working memory, which may not be adequately captured by TBR alone.
- Further research is needed to identify more robust biomarkers for distinguishing between ADHD and SLD.
