[Eye movement recordings in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder].

INTRODUCTION

Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects 3 to 5% of school-aged children. Diagnosis is based on criteria defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition (DSM-IV), and there is no specific marker for the disease. Eye movements may be altered in ADHD. The goal of this study was to identify difficulties in oculomotor tasks in children with ADHD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Subjects were children with untreated ADHD (n=7) and age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n=7). Two different tasks (prosaccades and pursuit) were used to examine functions necessary for the planning and execution of eye movements. Student's t-test was used for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Prosaccades were able to be recorded in five children with ADHD and in all control subjects. In two patients, no saccades could be recorded due to their hyperactivity. There were significant differences (P<0.01) in prosaccade latency, children with ADHD showing significantly longer latency on the prosaccade task than controls (299±91 ms versus 197±14 ms). Pursuit performance was saccadic with a gain of 0.4 versus 0.6 and was not significantly altered in the ADHD group with respect to controls.

CONCLUSION

Oculomotor measurements can be a simple, non-invasive test, easily performed in children with ADHD. Longer latency on the prosaccade task is observed in ADHD children.