Risk for Injury in Preschoolers: Relationship to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Parental ratings of preschoolers' risk for injury, direct assessment of preschoolers' behavior thought related to risk for injury (e.g., Inattention, impulsivity) and number of documented injuries were examined in preschoolers with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and their non-ADHD peers (Control). Of preschoolers with ADHD, 58.3% exhibited behavior which placed them at-risk for physical injury (0% Control), and their performance was significantly poorer on clinic-based tests. Nonetheless, preschoolers with ADHD did not actually sustain significantly more injuries which warranted medical treatment in an emergency department. Although preschoolers with ADHD may be at increased risk for minor injuries, further research is needed to determine whether they more frequently sustain more serious injuries.

Interactions Between Child Behavior Patterns and Parent Supervision: Implications for Children’s Risk of Unintentional Injury

“…Surprisingly, activity level did not predict medically attended injury under any level of supervision in this study. Past research examining the relation between activity level and injury has yielded inconsistent results (Byrnes et al, 2003;DiScala, Lescohier, Barthel, & Li, 1998;Schwebel, Brezausek, & Belsky, 2006), suggesting that if and when activity level predicts injury risk is not well understood. One possible explanation for the lack of consistent findings relates to age differences in child participants across studies.…”

“…Child characteristics that have been associated with injury include certain child clinical disorders (e.g., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder), temperament traits (i.e., individual difference traits reflected in stable behavioral tendencies, e.g., sensation seeking), and aspects of cognitive functioning, such as attention and appraisal of risk (Bijur, Golding, Haslum, & Kurzon, 1988;Byrnes, Bawden, Beattie, & DeWolfe, 2003;Davidson, 1987;Hillier & Morrongiello, 1998;Horwitz, Morgensten, DiPietro, & Morrison, 1988;Manheimer & Mellinger, 1967;Morrongiello & Lasenby, 2006;Schwebel & Plumert, 1999). Within preschool populations, because of the difficulty in diagnosing psychopathology at very young ages and the challenge of assessing cognitions about injury risk in those with limited verbal abilities, the research has focused primarily on identifying temperament-based behavioral traits that elevate young children's risk of injury.…”

Early manifestations of behavioral disorders in children and adolescents

“…Diferenças podem ser observadas a partir de então, com dificuldades para completar tarefas, maiores níveis de atividade, menor cooperação nas atividades em grupos 36 . Os pré-escolares com TDAH estão mais propensos a acidentes leves, mas não são mais suscetíveis a lesões graves 37 . Quando o diagnóstico de TDAH é estabelecido em pré-escolares usando-se os critérios do DSM-IV, tem-se observado que as manifestações de hiperatividade e impulsividade são mais proeminentes que aquelas relacionadas ao déficit de atenção 38 .…”

Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children with unintentional injuries

“…This finding is supported by other studies in similar accident and emergency settings 7 . In contrast, a study of preschoolers with ADHD found that they were more at risk of minor injuries but not major injuries when compared to a control group of non-ADHD children 16 . Secondly, children with ADHD were more likely to have history of repeated injuries, 44.4% vs 23.4%.…”