Primary headaches, attention deficit disorder and learning disabilities in children and adolescents

Abstract

BackgroundPrimary headaches and Learning difficulties are both common in the pediatric population. The goal of our study was to assess the prevalence of learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder in children and adolescents with migraine and tension type headaches.MethodsRetrospective review of medical records of children and adolescents who presented with headache to the outpatient pediatric neurology clinics of Bnai-Zion Medical Center and Meyer Children’s Hospital, Haifa, during the years 2009–2010. Demographics, Headache type, attention deficit disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities and academic achievements were assessed.Results243 patients met the inclusion criteria and were assessed: 135 (55.6%) females and 108 (44.4%) males. 44% were diagnosed with migraine (35.8% of the males, 64.2% of the females, p = 0.04), 47.7% were diagnosed with tension type headache (50.4% of the males, 49.6% of the females). Among patients presenting with headache for the first time, 24% were formerly diagnosed with learning disabilities and 28% were diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADHD). ADHD was more prevalent among patients with tension type headache when compared with patients with migraine (36.5% vs. 19.8%, p = 0.006). Poor to average school academic performance was more prevalent among children with tension type headache, whereas good to excellent academic performance was more prevalent among those with migraine.ConclusionsLearning disabilities and ADHD are more common in children and adolescents who are referred for neurological assessment due to primary headaches than is described in the general pediatric population. There is an association between headache diagnosis and school achievements.

P046. ADHD and headache: observational study of case series

“…This study confirms most literature studies on the possible relationship between headache and ADHD, especially concerning the important impact on quality of life and academic performance [ 1 – 3 ]. It confirms the remarkable role of ADHD traits in the personal and family history of the juvenile patients affected by primary headaches.…”

“…Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and headache are two very common diseases in childhood and both of them have an important impact on quality of life and academic performance [ 1 ]. In the literature there are many studies on psychopathology in headache, but the relationship between headache and ADHD is considered in few of them [ 2 ].…”

Headache and ADHD in Pediatric Age: Possible Physiopathological Links

“…Both the diseases often become disabling for children and families and are accompanied by poor academic performance [1,2], low cognitive and emotional functioning [3][4][5][6], and wrong sleep habits [7,8], leading to severe impairments of the child's quality of life [9,10].…”

“…Strine et al [23] evidenced an odds ratio of 2.6 to have inattention and hyperactivity in children who referred headache, and Genizi et al showed that learning disabilities and ADHD are more common in children and adolescents who are referred for neurological assessment for primary headaches than those described in the general pediatric population [1], while Arruda et al demonstrated that migraine and TTH are not comorbid to ADHD overall but are comorbid to hyperactive-impulsive behavior [20].…”

Line bisection in medication-overuse and chronic tension-type headaches

“…Clinical studies have shown that patients with migraine [9][10][11] or tension-type headache [11] often display various attention problems.…”