Theoretical and Epidemiological Aspects of Attention Deficit and Overactivity in Deaf Children

Disorders of attention deficit and overactivity, ADHD (DSM-IV), and hyperkinetic syndrome (ICD-10) are common and disabling. However, a number of factors in deaf children's development make the assessment of these disorders in deaf children problematic. The prevalence of ADHD and hyperkinetic disorder does not appear to be higher than expected in children with inherited deafness alone but does appear to be higher in children with acquired deafness and/or additional impairments. Data from a re-analysis of an earlier epdemiological study of psychiatric disorder in deaf children and adolescents suggests that these disorders are commoner than expected in deaf children and share the features of ADHD and hyperkinetic disorder seen in hearing children.