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Distractibility in hyperactive and conduct-disordered children
1Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
Insights
Hyperactive children exhibit significant distractibility when faced with interfering stimuli, a finding supported by a Chinese Stroop Test. This enhanced distractibility in hyperactive (HA) children suggests diagnostic value for hyperactivity.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Children with hyperactivity are often described as inattentive and distractible, but empirical evidence is inconsistent.
- Existing research on distractibility in hyperactive children yields equivocal results, necessitating further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the discrepancy in findings regarding distractibility in hyperactive children.
- To assess the diagnostic value of distractibility in differentiating hyperactive children from other groups.
Main Methods:
- A Chinese version of the Stroop Test was administered to 1479 Chinese boys in Hong Kong.
- Participants were divided into four groups: pure hyperactive (HA), mixed hyperactive/conduct-disordered (HA + CD), pure conduct-disordered (CD), and normal controls (N).
Main Results:
- Hyperactive (HA) children demonstrated significantly greater distractibility when exposed to distracting stimuli.
- Distractibility in HA children appeared influenced by stimulus potency and the random presentation order.
- No similar deficit in distractibility was observed in the hyperactive/conduct-disordered (HA + CD) group.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced distractibility is a specific characteristic of hyperactive children, indicating its potential diagnostic utility.
- The findings raise questions about the distinct clinical identity of the mixed hyperactive/conduct-disordered diagnostic group.
Abstract:
Hyperactive children are often said to be inattentive and distractible. However, the results from a number of experimental studies are equivocal. To examine this discrepancy, a Chinese version of the Stroop Test was devised. Four groups of subjects recruited from a community sample of 1479 Chinese boys living in Hong Kong took part in the investigation. These were: (1) a pure hyperactive (HA) group; (2) a mixed hyperactive/conduct-disordered (HA + CD) group; (3) a pure conduct-disordered (CD) group; and (4) a normal (N) control group. The results revealed that HA children were more markedly affected by the introduction of distracting stimuli. This distractibility was probably a function of both stimulus potency and the random order in which stimuli were presented. The specificity of a greater distractibility to HA children indicates its diagnostic value with regard to hyperactivity. The failure to find a similar deficit in HA + CD children raises questions about the clinical identity of this mixed diagnostic group.