Neuro-motor deficits in six- to eight-year old learners with ADHD and DAMP

Abstract

This study investigated the nature of coordination, visual-motor integration and neurological functioning in children diagnosed with ADHD and whether the likelihood of motor impairment will increase with the presence of co-occurring DCD (DAMP). Ninety-five learners (60 boys; 35 girls) with a mean age of 6.9 years participated in the study. Four groups were compared: An ADHD only group (n=42); a group of typically developing children (n=18); a medicated group (n=14); and a DAMP group (n=21). The MABC-2, QNST-2 and the VMI-4 were used to assess the groups. Descriptive statistics (StatSoft, 2012), two-way frequency tables and an ANOVA were used to analyse the results. ADHD learners using medication had significantly poorer fine motor skills (p<0.05) than those with only ADHD or typical children. ADHD children using medication and DAMP learners displayed comparable fine motor skills and hand control, although both groups had more impaired fine motor skills than those with only ADHD or typical children. Overall coordination and selected sensory and perceptual impairments increased as a function of co-occurring DCD, indicating that motor coordination does account for overall motor coordination and perceptual and sensory deficits seen in ADHD. These results further confirm a link between ADHD and fine motor problems.

Key words: ADHD; DAMP; DCD; Neuro-motor control; Fine motor skills; Visual-motor integration.