Alerting, orienting, and executive attention in children with ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the alerting, orienting, and executive attention abilities of children with ADHD and their typically developing (TD) peers using a modified version of the adult attention network test (ANT-I).


METHODS
A total of 25 children with ADHD, Combined Type (ADHD-C, mean age = 9.20 years), 20 children with ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type (ADHD-I, mean age = 9.58 years), and 45 TD children (mean age = 9.41 years) matched on age and intelligence to the ADHD group completed the ANT-I.


RESULTS
As hypothesized, children with ADHD (n = 45) displayed significantly weaker alerting and executive attention than TD children (n = 45) but did not differ from TD children in orienting ability. Children with ADHD-C (n = 25) did not differ from children with ADHD-I (n = 20) on any of the three networks.


CONCLUSIONS
Results supported the growing body of evidence that has found alerting and executive attention deficits in children with ADHD.
Mullane
Jennifer C
JC
Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada. jcmullan@dal.ca
Corkum
Penny V
PV
Klein
Raymond M
RM
McLaughlin
Elizabeth N
EN
Lawrence
Michael A
MA
D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology