The influence of the sensory profile and the capacity of physical activity on the participation of the children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by problems in attention, concentration, hiperactivity and impulse control. In the present study, we aim to assess the influence of the sensory profile and the capacity of physical activity on the community participation of the 8-10 aged, right hand dominated male children with ADHD. We included 35 children to our ADHD group. The control group consisted of 35 volunteer male students who showed typical characteristics and met the inclusion criteria. Children's sensory profile was assesed by Dunn Sensory Profile, physical activity capacity was assesed by Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children and 2 Minute Walk Test. We assessed the motor skills by using BOT-2, measured the strength of hand and finger muscles with Jamar hand dynamometer and pinchmeter, participation was assesed with CASP. Student-t Test and Chi-Square Test were used to analyze the independent variables. Multi regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship of the participants to the independent variables. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was found between the ADHD group and the control group in terms of sensory profile, physical activity level, functional capacity, motor skills, muscle strength, and social participation. Children with ADHD had lower scores than the control group in all assessment areas (p<0.05). As a result of our study; having low scores in physical activity level, motor skills, muscle strength and difficulty in sensory processing skills have been found to exhibite lower scores in all areas of social participation. We recommend that the exercise programs to be carried out in these children should be arranged by considering these results. Key words: Attention deficit and hiperactivity disorder, participation, sensory profile, physical activity