The pragmatic language, communication skills, parent-child relationships, and symptoms of children with ADHD and their playmates 18-months after a parent-delivered play-based intervention.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the communication skills, pragmatic language, parent-child relationships, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms of children with ADHD and their playmates 18-months after a pilot parent-delivered intervention for improving social play skills and pragmatic language.


METHODS
Participants were five children with ADHD, their parents, and five typically-developing playmates. Outcomes were measured immediately post and 18-months following the intervention. Parent-rated norm-based assessments and an observational measure were used. Differences within and between the ADHD and playmate groups were examined.


RESULTS
Children maintained all skills gained 18-months following the intervention. Compared to a normative sample, children with ADHD remained below the average range on aspects of communication skills, parent-child relationships, and ADHD symptom levels 18-months following intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
After intervention, children with ADHD still experienced pragmatic language skills below those of their peers on norm-based assessments that measure their skills across contexts. School-based interventions are needed to facilitate ongoing skill development and generalization.
a School of Allied Health, Occupational Therapy , Australian Catholic University , Berry St, North Sydney , NSW , Australia.
Sarah
S
Wilkes-Gillan
b Occupational Therapy, SDN Children's Services , King Street, Mascot , NSW , Australia.
Alycia
A
Cantrill
c School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work , Curtin University , Kent St, Bentley WA , Australia.
Lauren
L
Parsons
c School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work , Curtin University , Kent St, Bentley WA , Australia.
Cally
C
Smith
c School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work , Curtin University , Kent St, Bentley WA , Australia.
Reinie
R
Cordier
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D010989:Play Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D066107:Social Skills; D014705:Verbal Behavior
Communication; parents; peer interactions; pragmatic language; social interactions