Prevalence of ADHD Symptoms amonge Male Preschoolers Based on Different Informants in Ahvas City of Iran

Abstract EN

Background.

This cross-sectional study evaluated rate of reported ADHD symptoms among male preschoolers in Ahvaz by different informants and rate of their agreement.

Method.

One hundred ninety-two 5-6-year old boys from nine kindergartens in Ahvaz were selected.

Teacher and parents' Conners ADHD rating scales were used.

Findings.

For 133 children, questionnaires were returned.

Prevalence of children with positive questionnaire was 24.06%, with only parent questionnaire was 4.51%, with only teacher questionnaire was 17.29%, and with both informants was 2.25%.

Teacher-parent agreement was low (P=0.0001).

Conclusions.

ADHD symptoms are frequently reported by informants and may be more reported by teachers than parents and teacher-parent agreement may be low.

Interview with different informants and observation of child behavior are needed for documentation of diagnosis.