Differential Diagnosis
ADHD vs Intellectual Disability: How are they similar? How are they different?
Both: "Attention problems"
ADHD: A disorder of executive function. NOT linked to lack of comprehension.
Intellectual Disability: Developmental delays. Intellectual deficits in reasoning, problem solving, planning, abstract thinking, judgement, academic learning and learning from experience
True or false: all children with ADHD have language disorders.
False
Name 3 main symptoms of ADHD
Trouble focusing, trouble staying still, trouble organizing and completing tasks
Can SLPs diagnose ADHD?
No, only primary care providers, psychologists, and other professionals can diagnose ADHD
ADHD vs DLD: What makes them similar? What makes them different?
DLD: Characterized by persistent expressive/receptive language difficulties, trouble reading and writing
ADHD: Language not necessarily impacted in "pure" ADHD. Academic difficulties stemming from lack of focus.
Both: Conditions often co-occur, difficulties reading, writing, academic difficulties
What do SLPs need to take into account when providing intervention for kids with ADHD?
Behavioral deficits.
True, but there are environmental and other risk factors that may also be involved in causing it.
True or False: The CELF-P2 can be used informally to examine ADHD’s effect on sentence recall.
True
ADHD vs ASD: What makes them similar? What differentiates them?
ADHD: seeks novelty, restlessness, issues with attention, hyperactivity
ASD: routines, sensory difficulties, trouble INTERPRETING social cues, more socially withdrawn, repetitive behaviors
Both: special interests, trouble with task switching, pragmatic difficulties, trouble with executive function, stimming and fidgeting
What are some common comorbid disorders that occur with ADHD?
Dyslexia/learning disability, DLD
What are some risk factors for ADHD?
Brain injuries, nutrition, social environments
True or False:Executive functioning skills cannot be evaluated in informal play based assessments
False.
ADHD vs Learning Disability: What makes them similar? What makes them different?
Both: Conditions often co-occur, trouble with reading, math, academic difficulties
ADHD: Broad-based issues with attention and executive functions, learning difficulties come from attention issues
Learning Disability: Inattention and frustration come from trouble learning, often limited to a specific subject like reading and math
What should the focus of intervention be for ADHD?
Fostering positive language learning experiences while mitigating executive function issues.
How does ADHD affect pragmatics?
Pragmatics: Interruptions, trouble turn-taking, not listening to what people are saying, talking too much
True or False: Conversational turn taking and topic maintenance are pragmatic language skills that are affected by ADHD?
True
ADHD vs Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: What makes them similar? What makes them different?
Both: difficulties with executive function, memory, planning, processing speed, and attention. Conditions often co-occur. Emotional regulation
ADHD: "Normal" cognitive abilities
FAS: cognitive flexibility, processing speed issues
Discuss: how might ADHD affect school readiness in young children?
Negatively, because of lowered attention span and hyperactivity
Differences in ADHD presentation between men and women
Men more likely to present with hyperactivity symptoms. Women more likely to struggle with inattention.
What is the name of the questionnaire that is completed by teacher and parents, and is used by the SLP to review a child’s executive function skills?
The BRIEF-P (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version).