Related Experiment Videos
Narrative abilities in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and normal peers
R Tannock1, K L Purvis, R J Schachar
1Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show narrative production deficits, retelling stories with less information and poorer organization. These difficulties may stem from underlying executive function challenges in children with ADHD.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Cognitive psychology
- Developmental psychology
Background:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity.
- Executive functions, including organization and monitoring, are crucial for coherent narrative production.
- Previous research suggests potential executive function impairments in individuals with ADHD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate narrative production abilities in boys with ADHD compared to typically developing boys.
- To explore the relationship between narrative deficits and executive functions in ADHD.
Main Methods:
- A story retelling task was administered to 30 boys with ADHD and 30 matched typically developing boys.
- Participants listened to two stories and retold them to assess comprehension and narrative production.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in story comprehension or the ability to extract main ideas between the groups.
- Boys with ADHD produced narratives that were less organized, less cohesive, contained more inaccuracies, and provided less information overall.
- Narratives from boys with ADHD were often confused and difficult to follow.
Conclusions:
- Children with ADHD exhibit specific deficits in narrative production, not comprehension.
- These narrative production difficulties may be linked to underlying deficits in executive control processes, such as information organization and monitoring.
- Further research into executive functions is warranted to understand and support narrative development in ADHD.