Preschool inattention and impulsivity-hyperactivity: Development of a clinic-based assessment protocol

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether preschoolers classified as ADHD exhibited significantly more inattention and/or impulsivity-hyperactivity in the clinic than their typically-developing peers, using a developmentally appropriate clinical assessment protocol similar to protocols used with school-age children. Method: Fifty preschoolers participated; 25 preschoolers were classified with ADHD and matched with 25 typically-developing preschoolers. Direct clinic-based observations of behavior were analyzed and subsumed under two dimensions: inattention and impulsivity-hyperactivity. Results: In regard to inattention, compared to their typically-developing controls, the preschoolers classified with ADHD were significantly more often off-task in both low and high structure settings, and their episodes of play were significantly shorter in duration, though they did not shift activities more frequently. With regard to impulsivity-hyperactivity, preschoolers classified with ADHD were significantly more active and more talkative than their typicallydeveloping peers. Conclusions: Developmentally appropriate assessment protocols do provide convergent, clinically valuable information that may assist in the early assessment of ADHD and facilitate continuity of monitoring/assessment of ADHD symptoms into the school-age years.