[Comorbidities and behavioral problems in children with functional articulation disorder].
OBJECTIVE
To study the incidences of comorbidities and behavioral problems in children with functional articulation disorders.


METHODS
One hundred and twelve children with functional articulation disorders (aged 4-11 years) were enrolled. Their comorbidities were identified based on clinical investigations and the DSM-IV diagnosis criteria of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), stuttering, tic disorders and enuresis. Behavioral problems were evaluated by the Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire and the Child Behavior Checklist.


RESULTS
Sixty-nine patients (61.6%) had one or more comorbidities. The incidence of comorbidity in children with middle-severe functional articulation disorders was higher than in those with mild disorders. The most common comorbidity was language impairment (30.4%), followed by stuttering (16.1%), enuresis (13.4%), and tic disorders (6.3%). In school age children, ADHD (47.5%) was the most common comorbidity. The incidence of behavioral problems was 40.2% by the Child Behavior Checklist and 57.1% by the Parent Symptom Questionnaire.


CONCLUSIONS
The children with functional articulation disorders have high incidence of comorbidity and many behavioral problems.
Zhao
Yun-Jing
YJ
Department of Developmental Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
Sun
Hong-Wei
HW
Ma
Hong-Wei
HW
Zhao
Ya-Ru
YR
D001184:Articulation Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D004775:Enuresis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male