Fine Motor Skills in South African Children with ADHD
Author Information
Author(s): Meyer Anneke, Sagvolden Terje
Primary Institution: School of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo
Hypothesis
Are motor problems associated with ADHD symptoms in African cultures, and do they vary by subtype, gender, age, and hand dominance?
Conclusion
Children with ADHD symptoms showed poorer performance in complex motor tasks compared to those without ADHD, particularly in the ADHD-C subtype.
Supporting Evidence
- Children with ADHD performed significantly poorer on the Grooved Pegboard and Maze Coordination Task.
- The impairment was most severe for the ADHD-C subtype.
- Both genders were equally affected in terms of motor skills.
- Younger children (6-9 years) showed more pronounced motor control deficiencies.
Takeaway
Kids with ADHD have a harder time doing tricky hand tasks than kids without ADHD, especially if they have the combined type of ADHD.
Methodology
The study assessed 528 children using the Grooved Pegboard, Maze Coordination Task, and Finger Tapping Test to measure motor skills.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on teacher ratings for ADHD symptoms.
Limitations
The study did not assess children with IQ lower than 80 or those on psychostimulant medication.
Participant Demographics
Children from seven different South African ethnic groups, aged 6-13 years, with a mix of genders.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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