Visual Performance Testing in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (P1.330)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Using the King-Devick (K-D) test, a vision-based test of rapid number naming that requires saccades and visual processing, we investigated whether children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) had worse scores compared to similar aged matched controls. BACKGROUND: In sideline studies of youth and collegiate athletes with concussion, the K-D test consistently demonstrates higher (worse) time scores post-injury compared to pre-season baseline scores. There is growing evidence that, like concussion and mild traumatic brain injury, ADHD may be associated with visual pathway dysfunction. DESIGN/METHODS: Time required to complete the K-D test, a 1-2-minute test that measures speed of rapid number naming, were collected from patients diagnosed with ADHD (5-21 years of age) seeking care from the NYU Neurology Faculty Group Practice and Child Study Center. Analyses compared K-D scores of patients with ADHD to those of pre-season baseline K-D scores for student-athlete controls matched for age and gender. Participants with known history of previous concussion or visual impairment were excluded. RESULTS: Among 134 participants in this study, ADHD vs. control status was significantly associated with higher K-D test time scores (p<0.001, logistic regression models, accounting for age). Patients with ADHD took an average of 17 seconds longer to complete the K-D test (81.2 seconds for ADHD vs. 63.9 seconds for controls, p<0.001, two-sample t-test). Current or previous use of stimulant medications was not associated with differences in K-D time scores within the cohort of patients with ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence that that the visual pathways may perform differently in children with ADHD compared to similar aged student athletes. Correlation of K-D performance test scores with measures from electronic eye movement recordings will help to further characterize the nature of visual pathway involvement in children with ADHD.

Disclosure: Dr. Mueller has nothing to disclose. Dr. Baner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Leong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Fleiss has nothing to disclose. Dr. Moehringer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Galetta has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Genzyme, and Vaccinex. Dr. Wells has nothing to disclose. Dr Balcer received personal compensation from Biogen Idec and consulting for Biogen Idec, Vaccinex and Genzyme. She is on a clinical trial advisory board for Biogen-Idec.,