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Objective Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neuropsychological disorder primarily diagnosed in childhood. Early intervention was found to significantly improve developmental outcomes, implicating on the role of early identification of ADHD markers. In the current study, we explored the developmental history of children referred to neurological assessment to identify early ADHD predictors. Methods A total of 92 children and adolescents (41 females) recruited at a pediatric neurology clinic, with suspected ADHD (n = 39) or other neurological difficulties (n = 53) such as headaches, seizures, tic disorders, orthostatic hypotension, postischemic stroke, intermittent pain, and vasovagal syncope. Developmental history information was obtained from caregivers, and evaluation for possible ADHD was performed. Developmental details were compared between children with and without current ADHD diagnosis. Results Word-finding difficulties (WFDs) in preschool age was reported in 30.4% of the sample. Among children diagnosed with ADHD, 43% had WFDs history, compared with only 5% in children without ADHD. Among children with WFDs history, 93% were later diagnosed with ADHD compared with 42% in children without WFDs history. The relationship between WFDs and ADHD was significant (chi-square test [1, N = 92] = 20.478, p < 0.0001), and a logistic regression model demonstrated that asides from a family history of ADHD, the strongest predictor for ADHD in school age children was a history of WFDs. Conclusion Preliminary evidence supports a predictive link between preschool WFDs and later ADHD diagnosis, highlighting the importance of early WFDs clinical attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although physical therapy (PT) is effective in improving motor function in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), insufficient data are available on the impact of this intervention in children with combined attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and DCD. This prospective study aimed to establish the prevalence of DCD among a cohort of patients with ADHD, characterize the motor impairment, identify additional comorbidities, and determine the role of PT intervention on these patients. DCD was detected in 55.2% of 96 consecutive children with ADHD (81 males, 15 females), mostly among patients with the inattentive type (64.3% compared with 11% of those with the hyperactive/impulsive type, p less than 0.05). Mean age was 8 years 4 months (SD 2y). Individuals with both ADHD and DCD more often had specific learning disabilities (p = 0.05) and expressive language deficits (p = 0.03) than children with ADHD only. Twenty-eight patients with ADHD and DCD randomly received either intensive group PT (group A, mean age 9y 3mo, SD 2y 3mo) or no intervention (group B, mean age 9y 3mo, SD 2y 2mo). PT significantly improved motor performance (assessed by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children; p = 0.001). In conclusion, DCD is common in children with ADHD, particularly of the inattentive type. Patients with both ADHD and DCD are more likely to exhibit specific learning disabilities and phonological (pronunciation) deficits. Intensive PT intervention has a marked impact on the motor performance of these children. (Contains 3 figures and 1 table.)

Interviews regular and special education teachers concerning knowledge and attitudes towards attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) and learning disabilities (LD). Determined that general knowledge was low among both groups. Three-quarters of teachers favored increasing peer awareness as to problems LD students encounter at school. No correlation was found between teacher knowledge of ADHD and LD and their attitudes. (Author/JDM)

PTRH2 is an evolutionarily highly conserved mitochondrial protein that belongs to a family of peptidyl-tRNA hydrolases. Recently, patients from two consanguineous families with mutations in the PTRH2 gene were reported. Global developmental delay associated with microcephaly, growth retardation, progressive ataxia, distal muscle weakness with ankle contractures, demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy, and sensorineural hearing loss were present in all patients, while facial dysmorphism with widely spaced eyes, exotropia, thin upper lip, proximally placed thumbs, and deformities of the fingers and toes were present in some individuals. Here, we report a new family with three siblings affected by sensorineural hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy. Autozygosity mapping followed by exome sequencing identified a previously reported homozygous missense mutation in PTRH2 (c.254A>C; p.(Gln85Pro)). Sanger sequencing confirmed that the variant segregated with the phenotype. In contrast to the previously reported patient, the affected siblings had normal intelligence, milder microcephaly, delayed puberty, myopia, and moderate insensitivity to pain. Our findings expand the clinical phenotype and further demonstrate the clinical heterogeneity related to PTRH2 variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]