title: Social Communication is Predicted by Inhibitory Ability and ADHD Traits in Preschool-Aged Children: A Mediation Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Given the role inhibitory control plays in both ADHD and communication, this study examined whether inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive traits mediate the impact of weak inhibitory ability upon the knowledge and application of pragmatic rules early in development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 36 typically developing preschoolers and their caregivers. ADHD traits were assessed per caregiver report. Inhibition was assessed in children using a distraction task. Pragmatic language was assessed by asking children about hypothetical social situations (knowledge) and by asking caregivers to report on children's actual communicative behaviors (application).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individual differences in inhibition predicted both facets of pragmatic language development. Hyperactive-impulsive behaviors were a significant mediator of this relationship-but only with regard to children's ability to effectively apply pragmatic rules in everyday life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that social communication difficulties in some young children are a downstream consequence of hyperactive-impulsive behaviors that arise from poorly developed inhibitory control.
authors.affiliation: University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rints
authors.affiliation: University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada tmcauley@uwaterloo.ca.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McAuley
authors.affiliation: University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Nilsen
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D017008:Negotiating; D010641:Phenotype; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: ADD/ADHD; SWAN; communication; preschoolers; response inhibition