Motor examination in children with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder and Asperger Syndrome.

AIM: Evaluating whether motor skills could differentiate drug-naive subjects with two neurodevelopmental disorders: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Asperger Syndrome (AS).

METHODS

Thirty-six boys (12 with ADHD, 12 with AS and 12 with typical development) aged 8-12 were evaluated using the Physical and Neurological Examination for Subtle Signs. Three primary outcome variables were obtained as follows: (i) total speed of timed activities, (ii) total overflow and (iii) total dysrhythmia.

RESULTS

Children with AS performed more slowly than those with ADHD and healthy children independently of age and IQ. Total dysrhythmia differentiates ADHD and AS children from controls.

CONCLUSION

Dysfunction of the fronto-striatal-cerebellar networks related to motor control could be the physiopathological basis of the reported findings.