International Journal of School and Cognitive Psychology
Open Access

Cognitive Abilities and Anthropometry among Pre-School Children With and Without Attention Deficit Hyper Active Disorder (ADHD)

Deepa Reddy^* and Karnam Anuradha ^*Correspondence: Deepa Reddy, Department of HomeScience, Sri Venkateswara University, Andhra Pradesh, India, Email:

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Introduction

Childhood is a fairly long period in the life span of an individual and during this period the growth and development are rapid. Early childhood is the period which extends from two to six years of age [1]. During this stage children exhibit significant development in growth, as well as their cognitive abilities. Children of this age continue to advance their skills in observing and interacting with the world around them [2].

Nutrition is found to be a decisive factor in almost all aspects of development of the child during early period. The pre-school age which is very important in the lifecycle of a child, also falls within this period. During early childhood the child is vulnerable to diseases and under nutrition during this period affects proper growth and development as well as day-to day physical and psychological functions [3].

Anthropometric examination is an almost mandatory tool to assess health and nutritional condition in childhood. Physical measurements like bodyweight, height, circumference of arm and calf, triceps skin fold of children have been extensively used to define health and nutritional status of communities [4].

Cognitive development includes attention, reward response, executive functioning and other cognitive processes [1]. Focusing on children`s cognitive profile at early age will help to attain best academic or social functioning ability at later stage [2].

Literature found relationship between the cognitive development scores and anthropometric measures of ADHD children [5].

With this background to assess the relationship among the anthropometric indices and cognitive abilities of pre-school children with and without ADHD [6], the present study was conducted with the following objectives;

• To measure basic anthropometric data of normal pre-school children and children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).

• To assess the cognitive abilities among normal pre-school children and children with and without ADHD.

• To assess the association between cognitive abilities and their anthropometric measurements of sample children with and without ADHD.

Materials and Methods

The following tools and methods were used to collect the data:. Pandey’s cognitive development Test for pre-schoolers (PCDTP), Anthropometric data (measurements according to standard procedures of WHO)

Scoring

The cognitive abilities of sample children were measured using Pandey’s Cognitive Developmental Test for Pre-schoolers. The test consists of items to measure cognitive ability of children by verbal and non-verbal methods. The scoring was given based on correct answers given by the child. The total scores constituted the raw scores of the subject. Considering the age of child, the obtained scores were converted into standard scores based on age norms given by the author. The test-retest reliability given by the author was 0.95 which was significant and it was also reported that the tool has high validity. The minimum score is 43 and maximum is 60. Higher the score indicates good cognitive abilities among children.

Sample

The sample of the study were normal children who were attending government and private schools and children with ADHD who were attending the Psychiatry ward in S.V.R.R Government Hospital, Tirupati and who were residents of Tirupati Town. Normal children were randomly selected from anganwadi centers and private schools at Tirupati town.

The data collected was pooled and appropriate stastical tests were applied to find out the relationship among variables.

Results and Discussion

The sample children`s anthropometric measurements like height, weight, head circumference and mid arm circumference were measured using standard procedures for measurements and the mean and SD against standard values are presented in (Table 1).

Table 1: Distribution of sample children with and without ADHD according to anthropometric data.

From Table 1 it is known that children with ADHD had the mean height of 102.38 cm (SD=5.523) and same for normal children without ADHD was 96.32 cm (SD=8.593) both are in the range of the standard heights of Indian children, as per NHM standards (2014). This shows that comparatively, sample children with ADHD were having good posture, than children without ADHD.

The standard weight of pre-school children in the age of 3-6 as per standards was 14-20 kgs. The sample ADHD children’s mean weight was 19.62 kgs ± 2.884 and same for children without ADHD was 20.35 kgs ± 3.066. Both the groups were having optimum weight for their age according to the Indian standards.

The standard head circumference of preschool children in the age range of 3-5 years as per standards is 50 cm. Comparatively, the normal children were having a little less head circumference (49.53 ± 2.46) than standard value and children with ADHD had a little more than standard value. (50.43 ± 2.46) with regard to MUAC the data showed that MUAC of children without ADHD was less when compared with children with ADHD. When data related to MUAC was observed for both normal children (13.01 ± 1.1417) and for children with ADHD (12.98 ± 1.400) it was less than the standard value given as per NHM standards (15-16 cms).

Mehnaz Sheikh and Tehmeem Taseen, in a study on children in the age range of 2-5 years reported that comparing standard height of both boys and girls, slight much difference was found between standard and average of both boys and girls. Whereas with regard to standard weight, it was found that average weight of both boys and girls was slight more than standards.

In the present study both children with and without ADHD were found to be according to the standards in height, weight, head circumference, but were having less measurement in mid upper arm circumference.

The cognitive development of sample children was assessed using Pandey’s test (Table 2).

Table 2: Distribution of sample children with and without ADHD according to pandey’s test range values.

From the Table 2 it is known that and children with and without ADHD differed significantly in their cognitive abilities. The T-value was 22.456 which was highly significant comparatively children with and without scored more (49.51 ± 4.016) than children with ADHD (39.41 ± 3.505).

Conclusion

From this study the following conclusion can be drawn: Mid upper arm circumference of children without ADHD was less when compared with children with ADHD, comparatively children without ADHD scored more than children with ADHD. The data helped to understand the difference in anthropometric measurements of normal pre-school children and children with ADHD. As the problem of ADHD has been increasing globally much research in this area is needed to help children and parents.

References

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