Assessment of Handwriting Skills in a Sample of Egyptian Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

PURPOSE: To assess handwriting difficulties in ADHD children. BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders that affects 7.6% of children worldwide. In addition to the core symptoms defining Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), ADHD children often experience motor problems, including graphomotor movements, leading to handwriting difficulties. Studies have confirmed that handwriting skills are adversely impacted by the presence of ADHD, and this is associated with lower academic achievement and self-esteem. Children with ADHD have been found to display greater difficulties in the development of motor coordination, especially in the planning and execution of complex, lengthy, and novel chains of goal-directed behavior. Also, handwriting problems in ADHD may signal underlying executive function deficits such as inhibition, emotional dysregulation, working memory problems, and difficulty with self-monitoring, all of which are required for various daily functions beyond handwriting per se. With a slower motor response and perceptual speed, these deficits may decrease the likelihood that a child with ADHD can work efficiently and stay on-task during school and home activities.