Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Soft neurological signs (SNS) are minor neurological abnormalities in motor performance, and are used as one evaluation method for neurodevelopmental delays in children with ADHD. Our aim is to establish a quantitative evaluation system for children with ADHD. We focused on the arm movement called pronation and supination, which is one such soft neurological sign. Thirty three children with ADHD aged 7–11 years (27 males, six females) and twenty five adults participants aged 21–29 years old (19 males, six females) participated in our experiments. Our results suggested that the pronation and supination function in children with ADHD has a tendency to lag behind that of typically developing children by several years. From these results, our system has a possibility to objectively evaluate the neurodevelopmental delay of children with ADHD.
Highlights
The current diagnostic methods for neurodevelopmental disorders are based on pre/perinatal, developmental, family history, and physical/neurological examination, including visual inspection of so-called soft neurological signs (SNS)
The gray dashed line shows the average score of typically developing (TD) children
We indicated that the pronation and supination in TD children and children with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was only associated with age-appropriate development
Summary
The current diagnostic methods for neurodevelopmental disorders are based on pre/perinatal, developmental, family history, and physical/neurological examination, including visual inspection of so-called soft neurological signs (SNS). SNS are minor neurological motor performance abnormalities used as findings to test for developmental delays in neurological function [1]. SNS have been associated with developmental disorders presenting as difficulties in behavior, coordination, and learning. If neurodevelopmental function is impaired or delayed, soft neurological signs appear in various forms during physical examinations. Evaluation of physical functioning in children is very useful for diagnosing developmental disorders from an early stage.
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