AbstractObjective: To screen the school children aged 10-14 years for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder using Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale.
Method: This was a cross-sectional observational study. Total 2114 students of three schools between the age group of 10-14 yrs studying in 5th-9th standard were surveyed. Pre-study, the class teachers were trained in a half day workshop about ADHD disease and how to fill up forms. From each class suspected students of ADHD were selected by the teachers and then ADHD symptom scale self report form was filled by the teachers for these students. The filled up forms were analyzed by us.
Result: Prevalence of ADHD in present study was 65/2114 (3.07%), out of which 27.27% and 14.54% were of hyperactive and inattentive ADHD type respectively, while 58.16% were suffering from mixed ADHD type. Most affected age was 12 years, and male to female ratio was 5.5. Most common symptom of ADHD was, excessive talking (96.62%); most common behavioral problem was, not following rules (70.7%); and most common affected area was, mathematics.
Conclusion: The self report tool filled up by teachers after training them is able to detect cases of suspected ADHD in 10 to 14 year studying in 5 to 9 standard. There is a 3% predicted prevalence of ADHD by this survey tool in upper-middle class schools.
Keywords: ADHD; Vanderbilt Scale; School Children; Screen; Teacher Rating Scale; Prevalence.