Prevalence & Effectiveness Of Physiotherapy Interventions In Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In School Going Children

Abstract

Background: Attention‑deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the well-known neurological developmental disorders among children, adolescents, and even in adults. It is a childhood and adolescence condition which characterized by a pattern of persistent, extreme per-meant, and debilitating inattention, impulsivity and over-activity. There are 3 major different sub-types of ADHD predominantly inattentive subtype, predominantly hyperactive–impulsive subtype, and combined inattentive/hyperactive-impulsive. ADHD is one of the most prevalent chronic health disorders affecting 3–5% of school age children.

Methodology: The review search from two high-quality databases (Pub Med and Web of Science). Keywords used for each separate string were (“Autism” OR “ADHD”) AND (“Sensory integration therapy” OR “SI Therapy” AND (“Play therapy” OR “ADHD” OR “Prevalence” OR “ADHD”) and were search through Title/Abstract and Topic for each database, respectively.

Result: ADHD manifests in approximately 2-18% of children between the ages of 6 and 12 years. Several studies estimated the prevalence of ADHD, in USA 4-8%, Korea 7.6% to 9.5%, India 20% , and Emirates 29.7% in United Arab. Most of the studies show effectiveness of sensory integration therapy as well as play therapy in children with ADHD in terms of symptom reduction, functional improvement and overall quality of life.

Conclusion: This review underscores the growing significance of physiotherapy as a promising intervention for managing ADHD symptoms among school-going children. Further research is warranted to refine and customize physiotherapy interventions, ensuring equitable access and optimal outcomes for all children diagnosed with ADHD.