Functional Impairment Related to ADHD From Preschool to School Age
Author Information
Author(s): Kristin Romvig Overgaard, Beate Oerbeck, Svein Friis, Are Hugo Pripp, Heidi Aase, Christine Baalsrud Ingeborgrud, Guido Biele
Primary Institution: Oslo University Hospital
Hypothesis
Scores of several impairment dimensions, as reported by parents and teachers, will increase from 3 to 8 years.
Conclusion
Parents perceive impairment as more pronounced at age 8 years and more strongly associated with symptoms of both ADHD and comorbid disorders than at age 3.5 years.
Supporting Evidence
- Parent-reported impairment levels increased globally and for all dimensions during the study period.
- Parent-reported preschool symptom scores weakly predicted impairment scores at age 8 years.
- Teachers reported significantly higher levels of global impairment for boys compared to girls at both ages.
Takeaway
Kids with ADHD often struggle more as they grow up, especially in school and with friends, and parents notice these challenges more than teachers do.
Methodology
The study analyzed parent- and teacher-reported data on functional impairments associated with ADHD symptoms from ages 3.5 to 8 years.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in teacher reports due to different individuals assessing impairment at ages 3.5 and 8 years.
Limitations
Selection bias due to attrition and differences in teacher assessments at different ages.
Participant Demographics
Predominantly white Caucasian children from Norway.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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