Abstract
Objectives:While a group of children with ADHD may have normal behavioral responses to sensory stimuli, another group may be hyperreactive. The aim of this survey was studying association of tactile sensory responsivity with co-morbidity of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms, subtypes of ADHD, and gender in children with ADHD.Methods:The subjects were 81 children with ADHD from a child psychiatry clinic. The diagnoses were made according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Tactile dysfunction Checklist was used to assess the three types of tactile sensory dysfunction including Hypersensitivity, hyposensitivity, and poor tactile perception and discrimination (PTPD).Results:Their mean age was 8.4 (SD = 1.9) years. None of the gender, number of symptoms of ODD co-morbidity, and ADHD subtypes was as a predictor of scores of Hyposensitivity and PTPD subscales. Tactile defensiveness was not different between genders and different subtypes of ADHD.Conclusions:Number of ODD symptoms in children with ADHD is a predictor in association with hypersensitivity score of tactile sensory function. Girls are no more than the boys impaired in Hypersensitivity aspect. Different subtypes of ADHD are not distinct disorders regarding to tactile sensory function.
Highlights
Tactile information or the experiences derived from receptors in the skin are relayed to the brain and processed by somesthetic or somatosensory system
The sample consisted of 81 children (64 boys, 17 girls) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
The ADHD children were referrals of the outpatient clinic of Hafez Hospital affiliated to the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Summary
Tactile information or the experiences derived from receptors in the skin are relayed to the brain and processed by somesthetic or somatosensory system. This system interacts with other sensory systems. Over responsiveness or sensory sensitivity is strongly and/or negatively reacting to sensory input which is not usually perceived as a threat by most of people. A child with over responsiveness might not tolerate hair-brushing, haircuts, and/or hair washing. Under responsiveness is lack of reacting to a sensory input with the expected intensity or frequency. A high level of input is required to have a response [2]
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 call
