Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorders in first to third grades primary school students in Semnan, Iran

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental behavioral disorder. Children with ADHD do not have the ability to concentrate on a subject due to the unusual and extremely high physical activity. In spite of the negative effects of the ADHD, the epidemiological studies in this field seem to be limited. The aim of the present study was to report the prevalence of ADHD in the first to third grade elementary school students of Semnan, Iran. Twenty out of 69 primary schools were selected through the cluster random sampling procedure. The Conner's questionnaire (teachers' version) was handed in to the teachers. After three working days, the completed forms were collected. Each child's score was calculated. The cutoff – point for the diagnosis of ADHD was considered 60. The results of the present study indicated that 44.5% of the students showed some degrees of the ADHD that 10.9% of them scored as severe (they scored at or above 60). Thirteen percent of the boys and 8.6% of the girls showed severe symptoms of ADHD, this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.049). In the subdivisions of the Conner's questionnaire, the girls scored better than the boys in the "Behavior in Class" section (p = 0.014). About half of the primary school students in Semnan city showed different degrees of ADHD in the first to third grades, of which 10.9% were severe. Therefore, performing diagnostic screening of ADHD at the beginning as well as in the middle of the school year can be an effective way to identify children with ADHD earlier, provide extra educational and rehabilitation services and support, with priority in boys, and to be able to prevent the consequences and disadvantages of ADHD in students