Are abnormal event-related potentials specific to children with ADHD? a comparison with two clinical groups'

Children with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity (ADHD) were comp ared with two other clinical groups, namely, children with autism and child ren with dyslexia, with respect to several peaks of the ERP. By using these other clinical groups, it was studied whether amplitude differences betwee n children and ADHD and normal control children, which were found in an ear lier study, were specific to children with ADHD. ERPs were measured in resp onse to stimuli in an auditory and a visual oddball task. Only with respect to the P3 and Pz, measured in response to deviant auditory stimuli, did th e children with ADHD show smaller amplitudes than both autistic children an d those with dyslexia. It was concluded that a smaller amplitude of this pe ak is specific to children with ADHD.