CHILDREN ATTENTION DEFICT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT IN THE DOMAIN OF SCHOOL AND LEARNING AMONG SCHOOL GOING AGE

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of functional impairment in the domain
of “school and learning” among school going age children with ADHD. Study Design: Crosssectional
study. Setting: Neuropsychiatry OPD at National Institute of Child Health (NICH),
Karachi. Period: April 2012 to October 2012. Methodology: A total 122 child and adolescent
patients of school going age i.e. 05-15 years diagnosed as having ADHD were included in the
study. A Proforma was used to denote demographic details of the patients. Impairment in the
domain of “school and learning” was measured by using the Weiss Functional Impairment
Rating Scale – Parent Report (WFIRS-P). Results: of the total 122 patients 74% were males
and 26% were females. 61% were studying in primary school whereas 28% either never went
to school or had quit school. overall the domain of school and learning was impaired in about
48% of children with females’ representation being slightly more (50%) compared to males
(46%). within the domain of school and learning maximum number of children were impaired
in keeping up with schoolwork and needing tutoring (61%); whereas the least frequency of
impairment was observed in being suspended or expelled from school (30%). Conclusions:
ADHD causes functional impairment among children of school going age in the domain of
school and learning.