ADAPTIVE FUNCTIONING IN CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITYDISORDER

Objective: To evaluate the utility of the Vineland Social Adaptive Sca le (Vineland) in measuring social adaptive functioning in children wit h attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Design: Cross-secti onal group comparison. Setting: Multidisciplinary hyperactivity and le arning problem clinic at a tertiary referral center in Chicago, Ill. P articipants: One hundred four school-age children with ADHD. Intervent ion: None. Measurement/Main Results: The Vineland was administered to the study population. Despite average full-scale IQ scores (mean [+/-S D], 101+/-6), the children with ADHD had Vineland standard scores in t he borderline to low-average range (73+/-14). The discrepancy between the Vineland standard scores and the full-scale IQ scores increased wi th increasing age and IQ. Conclusions: Children with ADHD referred to a tertiary attention problem clinic displayed significant social adapt ive dysfunctioning on the Vineland. The evaluation of children with AD HD should include assessment of adaptive skills, and treatment plannin g for children with ADHD should include the identification of social a nd adaptive deficiencies when therapeutic goals are established.