Investigating the prevalence and comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental dyslexia in learners in a South African practice
Background: Dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are marked comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders with an estimated bidirectional comorbidity of 25% – 40%. Previous international studies have identified strong hereditary and neurological overlap between these disorders, but t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2022-10-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Childhood Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1085 |
| _version_ | 1811244505066635264 |
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| author | Sandra Stark Salomé Geertsema Mia Le Roux Elizabeth Bothma |
| author_facet | Sandra Stark Salomé Geertsema Mia Le Roux Elizabeth Bothma |
| author_sort | Sandra Stark |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are marked comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders with an estimated bidirectional comorbidity of 25% – 40%. Previous international studies have identified strong hereditary and neurological overlap between these disorders, but the comorbidity of these developmental disorders in a South African practice has not yet been explored.
Methods: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the co-existence of ADHD and the specific learning disorder (SLD) related to reading known as developmental dyslexia (DD). Additionally, the study sought to determine possible correlations between the overlapping diagnostic factors of the two developmental disorders. The study database consisted of 847 learners ranging from 8 to 18 years of age. Study data were obtained through a parent questionnaire regarding scholastic difficulties as well as prior ADHD diagnosis and/or treatment. A comprehensive psychometric assessment of DD was conducted on each participant in the first language of educational instruction, that is English or Afrikaans, to establish a direct dyslexia diagnosis as inclusion criterion.
Results: Of the 847 participants analysed in this study, 38.6% presented with a co-existing diagnosis of both ADHD and DD. However, there was no evidence of statistically significant interdependency between overlapping diagnostic factors of these two disorders.
Conclusions: The zero-correlations in the mentioned areas may indicate an overlap of shared symptoms rather than of distinctive diagnostic approaches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:26:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5e2766ac549c4d378d293abb3c15f2b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7674 2223-7682 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:26:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Childhood Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-5e2766ac549c4d378d293abb3c15f2b62022-12-22T03:29:26ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Childhood Education2223-76742223-76822022-10-01121e1e1010.4102/sajce.v12i1.1085498Investigating the prevalence and comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental dyslexia in learners in a South African practiceSandra Stark0Salomé Geertsema1Mia Le Roux2Elizabeth Bothma3Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, PretoriaOptentia Research Unit, North-West University, PotchefstroomBackground: Dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are marked comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders with an estimated bidirectional comorbidity of 25% – 40%. Previous international studies have identified strong hereditary and neurological overlap between these disorders, but the comorbidity of these developmental disorders in a South African practice has not yet been explored. Methods: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the co-existence of ADHD and the specific learning disorder (SLD) related to reading known as developmental dyslexia (DD). Additionally, the study sought to determine possible correlations between the overlapping diagnostic factors of the two developmental disorders. The study database consisted of 847 learners ranging from 8 to 18 years of age. Study data were obtained through a parent questionnaire regarding scholastic difficulties as well as prior ADHD diagnosis and/or treatment. A comprehensive psychometric assessment of DD was conducted on each participant in the first language of educational instruction, that is English or Afrikaans, to establish a direct dyslexia diagnosis as inclusion criterion. Results: Of the 847 participants analysed in this study, 38.6% presented with a co-existing diagnosis of both ADHD and DD. However, there was no evidence of statistically significant interdependency between overlapping diagnostic factors of these two disorders. Conclusions: The zero-correlations in the mentioned areas may indicate an overlap of shared symptoms rather than of distinctive diagnostic approaches.https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1085specific learning disorderdevelopmental dyslexiaadhdprevalencecomorbidity |
| spellingShingle | Sandra Stark Salomé Geertsema Mia Le Roux Elizabeth Bothma Investigating the prevalence and comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental dyslexia in learners in a South African practice South African Journal of Childhood Education specific learning disorder developmental dyslexia adhd prevalence comorbidity |
| title | Investigating the prevalence and comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental dyslexia in learners in a South African practice |
| title_full | Investigating the prevalence and comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental dyslexia in learners in a South African practice |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the prevalence and comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental dyslexia in learners in a South African practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the prevalence and comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental dyslexia in learners in a South African practice |
| title_short | Investigating the prevalence and comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental dyslexia in learners in a South African practice |
| title_sort | investigating the prevalence and comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental dyslexia in learners in a south african practice |
| topic | specific learning disorder developmental dyslexia adhd prevalence comorbidity |
| url | https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1085 |
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