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Brief Report: Children with ADHD Without Co-morbid Autism do not have Impaired Motor Proficiency on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children

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Abstract

Motor proficiency was investigated in a sample of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Combined type (ADHD-CT) without autism. Accounting for the influence of co-morbid autistic symptoms in ADHD motor studies is vital given that motor impairment has been linked to social–communication symptoms in children who have co-morbid ADHD and autistic-like symptoms. Two groups of children aged between 7–14 years were recruited; children with ADHD-CT (n = 16; mean age 10 years, 7 months [SD = 1 year, 10 months]) and a typically developing (n = 16; mean age 10 years, 6 months [SD = 2 years, 6 months]) group. Motor proficiency was measured using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd Edition, ADHD symptoms were measured using the Conner’s Parent Rating Scale. Children with ADHD-CT who had been screened for co-morbid autism did not display motor difficulties on the MABC-2. Higher levels of inattention, but not hyperactivity or impulsivity were associated with poorer motor performance. These findings provide indirect evidence that the motor problems that children with ADHD experience may be related to co-occurring social responsiveness impairments.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the children and families who participated in this research study and Dr. Anne-Marie Turner, Dr. Katie Heathershaw, & Dr. Harriet Hiscock from the Melbourne Children’s Clinic. This research was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) [Project grant 436609; Project grant APP1004387].

Conflict of interest

Nicole Rinehart is a professor at Monash University and is also a clinical psychologist who consults at the Melbourne Children’s Clinic where children with ADHD were recruited from. Assoc. Professor Rinehart is also a member of the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Expert Working Group on ADHD Clinical Practice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Building 1, 270 Ferntree Gully Road Notting hill, Melbourne, VIC, 3168, Australia

    Nicole Papadopoulos, Nicole Rinehart & John L. Bradshaw

  2. School of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia

    Jennifer L. McGinley

  3. The Clinical Research Centre for Movement Disorders and Gait, Cheltenham, Parkville, VIC, 3192, Australia

    Jennifer L. McGinley

Authors
  1. Nicole Papadopoulos
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  2. Nicole Rinehart
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  3. John L. Bradshaw
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  4. Jennifer L. McGinley
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Correspondence to Nicole Papadopoulos.

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Papadopoulos, N., Rinehart, N., Bradshaw, J.L. et al. Brief Report: Children with ADHD Without Co-morbid Autism do not have Impaired Motor Proficiency on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 1477–1482 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1687-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1687-5

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