title: Differentiating ADHD from oral language difficulties in children: role of movements and effects of stimulant medication.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current study was designed to test if an objective measure of both attention and movement would differentiate children with Oral Language Disorders (OLD) from those with comorbid Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and if stimulant medication improved performance when both disorders were present.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of thirty-three children with an identified oral language disorder (of which 22 had comorbid ADHD) ages 6 to 13 who were enrolled in a yearlong intensive learning intervention program. Those on a stimulant medication were tested at baseline and again a year later on and off medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Objective measures that included an infrared motion analysis system which tracked and recorded subtle movements discriminated children with OLD from those with a comorbid ADHD disorder whereas classic attention measures did not. There were better attention scores and fewer movements in children while on-medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of an objective measurement that includes movement detection improves objective diagnostic differential for OLD and ADHD and provides quantifiable changes in performance related to medication for both OLD and ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, 75390-9044, Texas, USA. Carroll.hughes@UTSouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Carroll W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, 75390-9044, Texas, USA. JPickering@Shelton.Org.|Shelton School, Richardson, Texas, USA. JPickering@Shelton.Org.
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pickering
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, 75390-9044, Texas, USA. Kristibakerphd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kristi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. Gina_Bolanos@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bolanos
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, 75390-9044, Texas, USA. Cheryl.Silver@UTsouthwestern.edu.|Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. Cheryl.Silver@UTsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants