Study of Communication Skills in Children with Attention Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder in Shahrekord

Abstract

Objective: This study was to investigate those pragmatic skills that children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, especially children with pragmatic impairment, show in their colloquial interactions with their parents.
Method: In this regard, all children aged 6 to 13 years old with a diagnostic criterion for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a a center for learning disabilities in Shahrekord were selected as research participants in a census method. Required data were collected by using an ADHD rating scale–IV (DuPaul et al., 1998) as well as a Five to fifteen parent questionnaire and were examined through descriptive statistics and chi square test methods.
Results: Findings showed that children with more hyperactivity were of more problem, especially in nonverbal skills (r=0.079; p≤0.05) and subject Maitaining skills (r=0.032, p≤0/05), than children with more attention deficit (r =0.00; p≤0.05). In addition, compared to girls, boys had more problems in subject Maitaining skills (p= 0.02) and non-verbal ones (p=0.014). The results of the analysis also showed that most issues related to pragmatic skills occur at younger ages and decrease with age. The study of previous research literature also confirmed that the low level of such skills can have adverse consequences for such children and pose serious risks to their future psychologically, educationally and behaviorally.
Conclusion: Psychological interventions and educational strategies seem necessary to increase the level of these skills in children with this disorder.