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Speed, speed variability, and accuracy of information processing in 5 to 6-year-old children at risk of ADHD

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2005

ARIANE C. KALFF ,
LEO M.J. DE SONNEVILLE ,
PETRA P.M. HURKS ,
JOS G.M. HENDRIKSEN ,
MARIELLE KROES ,
FRANS J.M. FERON ,
JEAN STEYAERT ,
THEA M.C.B. VAN ZEBEN ,
JOHAN S.H. VLES  and
JELLE JOLLES.
ARIANE C. KALFF
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands
LEO M.J. DE SONNEVILLE
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Vrije Universiteit–Medical Center of Amsterdam
PETRA P.M. HURKS
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands
JOS G.M. HENDRIKSEN
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands
MARIELLE KROES
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands
FRANS J.M. FERON
Affiliation:
Youth Health Care, Municipal Health Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
JEAN STEYAERT
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands
THEA M.C.B. VAN ZEBEN
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands
JOHAN S.H. VLES
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands
JELLE JOLLES.
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Abstract

The early assessment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) children has mainly focused on the behavioral, social, and pre-academic impairments. This study examined whether 5 to 6-year-old children at risk of ADHD are characterized by information-processing deficits. By screening 1,317 children in Southern Limburg (the Netherlands) with the Child Behavior Checklist, 363 were selected and underwent a computerized examination. Eighteen months later, standardized psychiatric information was obtained. Thirty-three ADHD children were compared with 75 borderline ADHD children, 122 pathological controls, and 133 healthy controls. ADHD and borderline ADHD children were slower and more variable in their processing speed on all tasks than children with no or other pathology. These differences were most pronounced for the divided and focused attention tasks. Furthermore, one measure of a state regulation deficit discriminated between groups. With regard to accuracy, only the proportion of misses on a go–no-go task was higher in the ADHD group than in the other groups. Evidence was found that ADHD is better seen as a continuum rather than a discrete category. Already at a young age, children at risk of ADHD show specific information-processing deficits. Deficits in time perception and/or energetic state control in children with ADHD may possibly account for subnormal task performance. (JINS, 2005, 11, 173–183.)

Keywords

ADHDKindergarten-ageinformation-processing deficits; ANT program
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , March 2005 , pp. 173 - 183
Copyright
© 2005 The International Neuropsychological Society

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