title: Neurological soft signs in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with wide repercussions. Since it is etiologically related to delayed maturation, neurological soft signs (NSS) could be a tool to assess this. Further the correlation of NSS with severity and type of ADHD and presence of Specific Learning Disability (SLD) would give further insight into it.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study neurological soft signs and risk factors (type, mode of delivery, and milestones) in children with ADHD and to correlate NSS with type and severity of ADHD and with co-morbid Specific Learning Disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out in Child care services of a tertiary teaching urban hospital. It was a cross-sectional single interview study.
  
  
  METHODS
  52 consecutive children diagnosed as having ADHD were assessed for the presence of neurological soft signs using Revised Physical and Neurological Examination soft Signs scale (PANESS). The ADHD was rated by parents using ADHD parent rating scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data was analyzed using the chi-squared test and Pearson's co-relational analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neurological soft signs are present in 84% of children. They are equally present in both the inattentive-hyperactive and impulsive-hyperactive types of ADHD. The presence of neurological soft signs in ADHD are independent of the presence of co-morbid SLD. Dysrrhythmias and overflow with gait were typically seen for impulsive-hyperactive type and higher severity of ADHD is related to more errors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Topiwala National Medical College and B Y L Nair, Charitable Hospital, Dr. A L Nair Road, Mumbai Central, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Patankar
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sangle
authors.forename: Henal R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dave
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kamath