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.
Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada. jcmullan@dal.ca
Jennifer C
JC
Mullane
Penny V
PV
Corkum
Raymond M
RM
Klein
Elizabeth N
EN
McLaughlin
Michael A
MA
Lawrence
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