Abstract
Previous studies suggest that parasympathetic functions support sensory behaviours. However, the relationship between sensory behaviours and parasympathetic functions remain inconclusive and inconsistent among children with and without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This research aims to examine the sensory behaviours and resting parasympathetic functions among children with and without ADHD. We compared sensory behaviours and baseline parasympathetic functions of 64 participants, with 42 typically developing and 24 ADHD male children aged 7–12 years. Sensory behaviours were evaluated using the sensory profile. Baseline parasympathetic functions were indexed using the normalized unit of heart rate variability high-frequency bands (HF n.u.). Children underwent an experimental protocol consisting of watching a silent cartoon movie while HF n.u. is continuously monitored, within a controlled environment. The results of this research showed significantly lower HF n.u. (t(64) = 7.84, p < 0.01) and sensory processing total score (t(64) = 14.13 = p < 0.01) among children with ADHD compared to their typically developing peers. Likewise, a significant moderate positive correlation (r = 0.36, p < 0.05) was found between the HF n.u. and sensory profile total scores among children with ADHD. Children with ADHD have significantly lower resting state parasympathetic functions compared to their typically developing peers.
Highlights
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a childhood neurobehavioural disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. e prevalence of ADHD has been suggested to reach between 5.29% and 7.1% in children and adolescents and at 3.4% in adults [1]
We know from previous research that children with ADHD may have compromised sympathetic functions related to behavioural response to sensory stimuli [11, 21]. e new findings presented in this study suggest that PNS functions may likewise play a role in the regulation of such behavioural responses to sensory stimuli. is research found that the resting-state parasympathetic functions are significantly low in children with ADHD
E results from this study provide a novel inquiry on how lowered PNS functions may affect how children with ADHD attain and sustain a calm and focused state that supports behavioural responses to sensory stimuli in daily activities. Our results espouse this idea, and we suggest that PNS functions may be a vital component in the evaluation of atypical sensory behaviours as well as other multifaced behaviours associated with ADHD
Summary
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a childhood neurobehavioural disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. e prevalence of ADHD has been suggested to reach between 5.29% and 7.1% in children and adolescents and at 3.4% (range 1.2–7.3%) in adults [1]. Previous studies suggested that the PNS functions are related to how children with and without ADHD regulate responses to sensory stimuli [11, 16]. Maladaptive sensory responsiveness may be a result of difficulty to physiologically regulate the PNS functions in order to achieve homeostasis It is for these reasons that this study is grounded on. Evidence on the relationship between behavioural and physiological responses to sensory stimuli has been limited to children with autism spectrum disorder [23,24,25] and yet to be proven among children with and without ADHD. Methodological variations of instrumentation, experimental procedures, and data analysis [11] may have likely contributed to the current knowledge gap related to the relationship between behavioural and physiological regulation of responses to sensory stimuli among children with and without ADHD. This research sought to: (1) determine differences in sensory behaviours between typically developing children and children with ADHD; (2) determine differences in resting parasympathetic functions between typically developing children and children with ADHD; and (3) determine the relationship between sensory behaviours and resting parasympathetic functions among typically developing children and children with ADHD
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
