Past Issues

Objectives: Attention defi cit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive symptoms, that impair social, academic or occupational functions, resulting in multiple functional defi cits. This study was to investigate the impact of ADHD on children’s family and school adaptive function. Methods: A retrospectively observational study was conducted at a medical center. We reviewed the medical records of newly diagnosed children with ADHD during January 2014 through July 2017. We enrolled ADHD children who had fi lled Student Adaptive Behavior Scale (SABS). We compared SABS scores between junior grade students (school year grade 1-3 years) or senior grade group (school year grade 4-6 years), and those of typical children of same grade group. Results: We enrolled 44 children in this study. The overall adaptive function was signifi cantly poorer in ADHD groups (p < 0.5). In school adaptation, both grade ADHD groups got signifi cantly lower score in all subscales (p < 0.01 or p < 0.01). In family adaptation, compared to typical children junior grade ADHD students was found to have signifi cant poorer adaptation in communication skills (p < 0.01), and self-directing (p < 0.001). Compared to typical children senior-grade ADHD students showed signifi cant poorer adaptation in performance in home life (p < 0.01), interpersonal adaptation (p < 0.001), communication skills (p < 0.001), and self-directing (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Overall adaptation of ADHD children was worse than the average children. In designing of a treatment plan for ADHD, clinician should consider the different impact in adaptive function, to make comprehensive and individualized intervention program.