Masters Degrees (Occupational Therapy)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Occupational Therapy) by Subject "Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder"

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    Sensory processing of learners in the Western Cape diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011-12) Cook, Ray Anne; Smit, Neeltje; Lombard, Agnita; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Occupational Therapy.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background Temperament and sensory thresholds play an important part in how a person processes sensory information. Because people are differently construed, the way we perceive sensory information and act on the information will differ. Any person who suffers from an ailment or condition that interferes with this process of receiving, interpreting and acting on stimuli from our environments may find this process even harder. Behavioural observations that deviate from the "norm" are often found in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sensory processing disorder (SPD). More recent research focused on the relationship between ADHD and SPD. Dunn developed the Sensory Profile Caregiver1 and Sensory Profile School Companion2 (SPSC) measures to identify children’s sensory processing difficulties. Although many studies have been conducted using the Sensory Profile, no studies have been conducted outside the United States of America (USA) to establish whether Dunn’s SPSC will differentiate between children who are considered to be "normal" and those diagnosed with ADHD. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate how learners with ADHD in the Western Cape would perform on Dunn’s Sensory Profile School Companion (SPSC) and the ADHD Rating Scale-IV³ in order to assess the sensory processing problems of learners with ADHD in South Africa (see note end of abstract). Methodology A descriptive study was conducted using a convenience sample (n=108) from learners in the Western Cape between the ages of five and ten years and diagnosed with ADHD. Data collection consisted of a demographical form completed by the parents/legal guardians of the learners, as well as the completion of two questionnaires by the educator of the learners. The first questionnaire, the ADHD Rating Scale-IV, was used to classify the learners into subtypes of ADHD. The second questionnaire was Dunn’s SPSC, which is a teacher-report measure of learners’ responses to sensory input in the school environment. The following statistical analyses were performed: • descriptive statistics to provide means, medians and measurements of dispersion of the learners in the Western Cape on the SPSC; • The Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA probability value to consider if significant differences existed between the medians of the 13 group scores of the SPSC; and • The Welsh T-test to compare learners with ADHD in the Western Cape with SPSC norms and Dunn’s sample of learners with ADHD. Results The results showed that there were significant differences (p=0.000) on all 13 group scores of the SPSC in learners with ADHD in the Western Cape showing significantly more behaviours characterising poorer sensory processing, when compared to Dunn’s normal sample. The comparison to Dunn’s sample of learners with ADHD did not yield significant differences in 11 of the 13 group scores, indicating that learners with ADHD in the Western Cape did not differ from Dunn’s ADHD learners. Avoiding and School Factor 4 showed significant differences, with the Western Cape group showing more extreme behaviours related to sensory input than Dunn’s group. The results using the ADHD Rating Scale-IV were less significant and it was found that the rating scale could not differentiate between the two types of ADHD, although some inferences could be made regarding the use (or not) of medication. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) on the inattentive, hyperactive-impulsivity and total scores of the ADHD Rating Scale-IV with learners not on medication showing a higher frequency of ADHD behaviours. Conclusion Dunn’s SPSC was found to be a good measure to assess learners with ADHD’s sensory processing problems. The ADHD Rating Scale-IV, on the other hand, could not classify the learners into the subtypes and therefore cannot be used when learners are already using medication. Further investigation is recommended to try to establish a link between the different subtypes of ADHD and the placement of learners on the different quadrants of Dunn’s SPSC as well as the School Factors and Sensory Section Scores.