The evaluation of how Assistive Technologies for Cognition (ATC) serve their purpose in providing support for children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (AD/HD) is limited and it is not clear how to best support the cognitive functions in order to help the individual increase task performance in everyday life. This thesis sought to scrutinise how families with at least one child diagnosed with AD/HD incorporate ATCs in their daily life in order to cope with appurtenant difficulties. An online survey, answered by 92 caregivers for children with AD/HD, attended to the cognitive abilities in need of support, the usage of ATCs, and how ATCs supported the executive functions in everyday planning. The results reveal that children encounter difficulty in dealing with cognitive ability, executive functioning and causal inference when it comes to planning in everyday life situations, which relates to lower levels of independence. Executive functioning and causal inference is negatively correlated to number of symptoms of AD/HD. The ATC is not satisfactorily supporting the cognitive functions, which results in another person by default being the one who sets up the ATC, and the child merely follows the instruction. The results has been processed into a table containing concepts which is suggested to be considered both when developing, as well as evaluating, ATCs for children with AD/HD.

Purpose: To investigate and characterize sensory sensitivity in Tourette syndrome (TS) through an evaluation of behaviour, perception and processing of tactile stimuli in children with TS and co-morbid Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) compared to typically developing controls (TDC). Methods: Somatosensory evoked P3 potentials were recorded in TS+ADHD and in TDC children aged 6-12 and compared at midline electrodes. Reported sensory sensitivity was measured using the Sensory Profile, while Semmes-Weinstein filaments were used to determine tactile threshold in the same area stimulated during P3 testing. Results: 13 TS+ADHD and 12 TDC were studied. TS+ADHD children reported significantly higher sensory sensitivity (p=.001) and demonstrated a significantly lower tactile threshold (p=.027) than TDC. Furthermore, the amplitude of electrophysiological responses to repetitive tactile stimuli was significantly larger in TS+ADHD (p=.0009). Conclusion: TS+ADHD children are significantly more sensitive to tactile stimulation than controls. ERP differences suggest that central processing alterations could mediate sensory hypersensitivity.

Purpose: To investigate and characterize sensory sensitivity in Tourette syndrome (TS) through an evaluation of behaviour, perception and processing of tactile stimuli in children with TS and co-morbid Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) compared to typically developing controls (TDC). Methods: Somatosensory evoked P3 potentials were recorded in TS+ADHD and in TDC children aged 6-12 and compared at midline electrodes. Reported sensory sensitivity was measured using the Sensory Profile, while Semmes-Weinstein filaments were used to determine tactile threshold in the same area stimulated during P3 testing. Results: 13 TS+ADHD and 12 TDC were studied. TS+ADHD children reported significantly higher sensory sensitivity (p=.001) and demonstrated a significantly lower tactile threshold (p=.027) than TDC. Furthermore, the amplitude of electrophysiological responses to repetitive tactile stimuli was significantly larger in TS+ADHD (p=.0009). Conclusion: TS+ADHD children are significantly more sensitive to tactile stimulation than controls. ERP differences suggest that central processing alterations could mediate sensory hypersensitivity.

Thesis (Ph.D.(Educational Psychology))-University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-06, Section: A, page: 2314. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-134).

Thesis (M.Ed.(Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Louisville, 2009. / Department of Communication. Vita. "December 2009." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 58-62).

Thesis (M.Psych. Ed.) - University of Queensland, 2006. / Includes bibliography.

Introdução: O estudo da personalidade apresenta uma influência crescente no entendimento da heterogeneidade de transtornos psiquiátricos. O temperamento em particular parece contribuir para a grande variabilidade do TDAH. Tal associação é examinada neste estudo, fazendo parte de um projeto mais amplo que envolve desde as bases genéticas até a comorbidade e resposta a tratamento do TDAH. Artigo: Este estudo examina escores nas dimensões de temperamento do TCI em subtipos de TDAH em adultos. Cento e quarenta e seis pacientes (66 mulheres e 80 homens) foram recrutados através de informação na imprensa acerca de manifestações do TDAH para um programa de pesquisa. Os diagnósticos de TDAH foram realizados pelo DSM-IV e a avaliação do temperamento teve por base o TCI. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois subtipos de TDAH: desatento (N=52) e hiperativo/combinado (N=92). Os escores de temperamento foram então avaliados em análises de variância de dois fatores (sexo e subtipo), com correção para a idade. Os pacientes do subtipo hiperativo/combinado apresentaram escores mais altos em procura de novidades (P=0,033), enquanto os desatentos, uma tendência não significativa para escores maiores em dependência de premiação (P=0,064). Nas comparações entre os sexos, as mulheres apresentaram escores maiores em esquiva ao dano (P=0,029) e dependência de premiação (P=0,010). Foi observada uma interação significativa entre o sexo e o subtipo sobre os escores de persistência. Enquanto entre os homens o subtipo hiperativo/combinado mostrou-se associado a escores mais altos em persistência, o inverso foi observado no sexo feminino. Este estudo sugere que a avaliação do temperamento pode contribuir na compreensão da heterogeneidade clínica do TDAH. Discussão e conclusões: Os achados deste estudo são coerentes com a literatura examinada, apontando para o papel de variações do temperamento na heterogeneidade do TDAH. / Introduction: Current research on personality assessment presents a growing influence on the understanding of the clinical heterogeneity of psychiatric disorders. Specifically, temperament seems to contribute to the large ADHD variability. Such association is analyzed here as part of a larger project encompassing from genetics to comorbidity and response to treatment in ADHD. Article: This study aims to evaluate temperament dimension scores of TCI in ADHD subtypes in adult subjects. One hundred forty six patients (66 females and 80 males) were self referred by press information on ADHD symptoms. The diagnosis of ADHD was confirmed using DSM-IV criteria and temperament was assessed with the TCI. Patients were separated in two ADHD subtype groups: inattentive (N=52) and hyperactive/combined ones (N=92). Temperament scores were measured by two factors ANOVA analysis (gender and subtype), with age correction. Hyperactive/combined patients scored higher in novelty seeking (P=0.033) while inattentive presented a nonsignificant trend towards higher scores in reward dependence (P=0.064). Comparing genders, females showed higher scores in harm avoidance (P=0.029) and reward dependence (P=0.010). A significant interaction between gender and subtypes was observed in persistence scores. While combined/hyperactive males presented higher persistence scores, the opposite was observed among females. This study suggests that temperament assessment can contribute to the understanding of the clinical heterogeneity in ADHD. Discussion and conclusions: The results of this investigation are coherent with the current literature, pointing towards the role of temperament variability on the heterogeneity of ADHD.

Introdução: O estudo da personalidade apresenta uma influência crescente no entendimento da heterogeneidade de transtornos psiquiátricos. O temperamento em particular parece contribuir para a grande variabilidade do TDAH. Tal associação é examinada neste estudo, fazendo parte de um projeto mais amplo que envolve desde as bases genéticas até a comorbidade e resposta a tratamento do TDAH. Artigo: Este estudo examina escores nas dimensões de temperamento do TCI em subtipos de TDAH em adultos. Cento e quarenta e seis pacientes (66 mulheres e 80 homens) foram recrutados através de informação na imprensa acerca de manifestações do TDAH para um programa de pesquisa. Os diagnósticos de TDAH foram realizados pelo DSM-IV e a avaliação do temperamento teve por base o TCI. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois subtipos de TDAH: desatento (N=52) e hiperativo/combinado (N=92). Os escores de temperamento foram então avaliados em análises de variância de dois fatores (sexo e subtipo), com correção para a idade. Os pacientes do subtipo hiperativo/combinado apresentaram escores mais altos em procura de novidades (P=0,033), enquanto os desatentos, uma tendência não significativa para escores maiores em dependência de premiação (P=0,064). Nas comparações entre os sexos, as mulheres apresentaram escores maiores em esquiva ao dano (P=0,029) e dependência de premiação (P=0,010). Foi observada uma interação significativa entre o sexo e o subtipo sobre os escores de persistência. Enquanto entre os homens o subtipo hiperativo/combinado mostrou-se associado a escores mais altos em persistência, o inverso foi observado no sexo feminino. Este estudo sugere que a avaliação do temperamento pode contribuir na compreensão da heterogeneidade clínica do TDAH. Discussão e conclusões: Os achados deste estudo são coerentes com a literatura examinada, apontando para o papel de variações do temperamento na heterogeneidade do TDAH. / Introduction: Current research on personality assessment presents a growing influence on the understanding of the clinical heterogeneity of psychiatric disorders. Specifically, temperament seems to contribute to the large ADHD variability. Such association is analyzed here as part of a larger project encompassing from genetics to comorbidity and response to treatment in ADHD. Article: This study aims to evaluate temperament dimension scores of TCI in ADHD subtypes in adult subjects. One hundred forty six patients (66 females and 80 males) were self referred by press information on ADHD symptoms. The diagnosis of ADHD was confirmed using DSM-IV criteria and temperament was assessed with the TCI. Patients were separated in two ADHD subtype groups: inattentive (N=52) and hyperactive/combined ones (N=92). Temperament scores were measured by two factors ANOVA analysis (gender and subtype), with age correction. Hyperactive/combined patients scored higher in novelty seeking (P=0.033) while inattentive presented a nonsignificant trend towards higher scores in reward dependence (P=0.064). Comparing genders, females showed higher scores in harm avoidance (P=0.029) and reward dependence (P=0.010). A significant interaction between gender and subtypes was observed in persistence scores. While combined/hyperactive males presented higher persistence scores, the opposite was observed among females. This study suggests that temperament assessment can contribute to the understanding of the clinical heterogeneity in ADHD. Discussion and conclusions: The results of this investigation are coherent with the current literature, pointing towards the role of temperament variability on the heterogeneity of ADHD.