Language deficit with attention-deficit disorder: a prevalent comorbidity.
The aim of this study was to delineate the prevalence and behavioral patterns of children with attention-deficit and language problems as compared to children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) only. Out of a cohort of 3208 children 6 to 11 years old, 5.2% were identified as having a primary ADHD. A teacher's behavioral questionnaire, pediatric interview and assessment, IQ, attention tests, and language evaluation were employed. A 45% rate of language problems was identified. This comorbidity is more prevalent among girls (P = .02). Sequencing and short-term memory were significantly related to attention-deficit and language problems, but the attention scores were not. Language performance was the best predictor of group assignment and was superior to IQ in that regard. Correlation analysis revealed a different behavioral pattern for the two groups. It appears that a significant proportion of children with ADHD have a language comorbidity not reflected by IQ assessments; therefore, language tests should be considered as part of their routine assessment. Children with attention-deficit and language problems appear to have a different neurocognitive pattern underlying their problems as compared with their peers with ADHD only.
Tirosh
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E
Hannah Khoushy Child Development Center, Bnai Zion Medical Center, and the Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
Cohen
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A
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D015995:Prevalence