Dados do Trabalho

Título

APPLICATION OF A QUESTIONNAIRE FOR SCREENING OF ATTENTION DEFICIT-HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER IN CHILDREN WITH ACADEMIC UNDERACHIEVEMENT

Introdução

Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent situation in childhood and is characterized by inadequate levels of inattention and impulsivity, as well as excessive motor activity. As a result, children's neurocognitive development is compromised and this affects their academic, social and emotional abilities. It is a problem that requires attention and care, and needs to be diagnosed and treated early by qualified professionals. The Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham (SNAP-IV) questionnaire is a useful instrument for measuring impulsivity and inattentional symptoms. It is a frequently used diagnostic screening method. This condition, if not identified and treated properly, can be related to academic underachievement and compromises child's human development.

Objetivo

To screen the diagnosis of ADHD in a sample of children with academic underachievement by applying the SNAP-IV questionnaire.

Método

A cross-sectional, observational, and epidemiological study was conducted by evaluation of the medical records and their respective scores on the SNAP-IV questionnaire of school-age children evaluated in a university hospital’s outpatient clinic of academic underachievement. The variables examined were age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and grade, and their correlation with the SNAP-IV score.

Resultados

One hundred and twenty records were evaluated, of which, 49 had the SNAP-IV filled in, 37 (75.5%) were male, the mean age was 8.7 years old, it ranged from 1st to 7th grades of elementar school. A total of 15 (30.6%) students had positive screening for ADHD diagnosis on the SNAP-IV scale, with a high prevalence in boys (93.3%), of which four were overweight and two obese. 34 (69.3%) students had positive screening for inattention, of which eight (23.5%) were overweight and five (14.7%) with obesity.

Conclusão

ADHD was more common among boys, with an average age of 8.7 years. Inattention and overweight were associated. Furthermore, considering the positive SNAP-IV, there was high percentagem of overweight and obesity. Therefore, these results warn to the need for early interventions in ADHD, so that appropriate treatment can reduce the impact of this disorder on weight gain.

Referências

Swanson, J. M., Nolan, W. & Pelham, W. E. (1980). The SNAP-IV Teacher and Parent Rating Scale.

MERCUGLIANO, M. What is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder? Pediatric Clinics of North America, v. 46, n. 5, p. 831-843, out. 1999. DOI: 10.1016/s0031-3955(05)70157-7. PMID: 10570690.

HACHUL, H.; BOLEIRA, C.; GIROU, C.; MORAES, F.; TUDE, R. B. L.; BEZERRA, A. G. et al. Pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology, [S.l.], v. 28, n. 3, p. 417-431, 2015. Disponível em: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2359348215000883?via%3Dihub. Acesso em: 18 jul. 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2015.08.001.

Palavras Chave

child; questionnaire; attention déficit with hyperactivity disorder