Fine motor skills and effects of methylphenidate in children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and developmental coordination disorder

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate fine motor skills of children with both attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and those of a control group, and to examine the effects of methylphenidate on these skills. A group of 12 children with ADHD-DCD (11 males, one female; mean age 9y 8mo [SD 1y 7mo]) and 12 age-and sex-matched controls (mean age 9y 7mo [SD 1y 2 mo]) participated. The manual dexterity subtests of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, the concise assessment method for children's handwriting, and a computerized graphomotor task were used. Results demonstrated that children with ADHD-DCD performed more poorly on the manual dexterity subtests, had poorer quality of handwriting, and drew more rapidly, more fluently, but less accurately than controls on the graphomotor task. On methylphenidate, manual dexterity and quality of handwriting improved, and strokes on the graphomotor task became less fluent but more accurate. ADHD is characterized by persistent symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, affecting 3 to 5% of school-age children. Up to 50% of children with ADHD also have motor coordination problems that are severe enough to meet criteria for DCD. In DCD, children demonstrate functional motor performance deficits not explained by the child's (chronological) age or intellect, or by other neurological or psychiatric disorders.

Comparison of Dynamic Balance under Dual and Simple Task Conditions in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…ADHD affects 3 to 5% of school-age children in the U.S 1) . Children who are diagnosed with ADHD often experience significant sensory motor problems that make typical school activities a challenge.…”

Stability of motor problems in young children with or at risk of autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and or developmental coordination disorder

“…2 In some cases, poor motor performance at preschool age is one of the first clear signs of another (comorbid) developmental disorder with more prominent behavioural features, such as autism spectrum disorders 3 (ASDs), or attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder 4 (ADHD). Although motor disorders can occur in isolation, many studies have described their frequent co-occurrence with ADHD 5,6 and ASD. 7,8 The purpose of this study was therefore, to determine the stability of poor motor performance among younger children.…”

Relação entre indícios de disgrafia funcional e desempenho acadêmico

“…Como se sabe, não é incomum encontrar ambos os distúrbios (dislexia e disgrafia) numa só criança 17,25 . Interessante destacar que a literatura vem demonstrando também que há relação entre problemas com a caligrafia e transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade [26][27][28][29][30][31] .…”