Abstract

Dr. Uduak M. Offiong*, Isaac Ali and Felicia Mairiga

ABSTRACT

A sound education is essential to a good life. Being successful in their academic pursuits is the goal of every educational venture. Therefore persistent poor academic outcome should be considered a symptom of a larger problem and investigated. Children with poor school performance would be seen by healthcare providers. It is then important that the awareness of the burden of ADHD as a medical cause of school failure be created. This study aims to describe the symptoms of ADHD prevalent in symptoms in primary school children in the Gwagwalada Area Council who are failing in school. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out among primary school children with poor school performance who were assessed to have symptoms of ADHD using the DSM-IV school version adapted by Du-Paul. Results: Fifty (50) children were assessed to have ADHD. Thirty –one (62%) children were assessed to have inattentive subtype (IA) of ADHD, 16 (32%) had the combined subtype while only 3(6%) had the hyperactivity-impulsivity subtype (HA) of ADHD. The prevalence of symptoms was higher in the inattentive subset. Discussion: This study highlights the high prevalence of inattentive symptoms of ADHD in primary school children in the Gwagwalada area council who have poor academic performance; a finding which is in keeping with other studies. Conclusion: it does appear that there is a need for a larger study which will also incorporate the diagnosis of comorbid conditions which have been shown to exist with ADHD.