ADHD: Linguistic abilities and EEG findings compared to specific language impairment

BackgroundAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often associated with language impairment (LI). Additionally, it may be associated with abnormal electroencephalographic (EEG) findings.AimTo assess language abilities and EEG findings in children with ADHD presented with LI in comparison to children with specific Language Impairment (SLI).Patients and methodsA comparative study was conducted on the different linguistic abilities and electroencephalographic findings of 30 Arabic speaking ADHD children with LI and 30 age and gender matched children with SLI. Abnormal EEG findings were classified according to anatomical distribution.ResultsThe group of ADHD children with LI had significant delay in the acquisition of first word and two word sentence utterance in comparison to the group of SLI children. The ADHD children with LI had significantly lower language scores than the SLI group involving the total language, and all language parameters except for the expressive syntax parameter. In addition, they had significantly more frequent abnormal EEG findings and highly significantly abnormal epileptiform activity than children with SLI. The most frequently occurring abnormal EEG findings in the ADHD children with LI were generalized abnormal epileptiform activity and abnormal bilateral focal discharge.ConclusionThe ADHD children with LI had worse language parameters and more frequent abnormal EEG findings than children with SLI.