BIOLOGICAL PREDICTORS AND CO-MORBIDITY OF ATTENTION-DEFICIT AND HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER IN EXTREMELY LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS AT SCHOOL

Objective: To examine biological predictors and co-morbidity of Attent ion Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and associated academic and social impairment in a cohort of extremely low birthweight of (ELBW) c hildren attending school. Methodology: Eight seven (70%) of 125 ELBW c hildren born between 1977 and 1986 were followed prospectively. Neonat al and biological data including cranial ultrasound for 62% of childre n, formal developmental assessment at 4 or 6 years of age, teacher and parent ADHD questionnaire, parental rating of health status and socia l impairment and school teacher rating of academic performance was rec orded. Results: Apart from grades 3 or 4 intraventricular haemorrhage in a minority of children, there was no evidence to suggest an associa tion between ADHD and perinatal adversity in ELBW children. Social imp airment, academic difficulty and atopic symptoms were significantly re lated to ADHD. Conclusions: Extremely low birthweight children present ing with symptoms of ADHD are likely to suffer social and learning imp airment and these, rather than perinatal risk factors, should be the f ocus of clinical attention.