Inhibition in developmental disorders: A comparison of inhibition profiles between children with autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and comorbid symptom presentation.
Amanda Cremone-Caira, Katherine Trier, Victoria Sanchez and 3 others
PMID 32972212WHAT IT FOUND
Children with both autism and ADHD showed a unique pattern of inhibition deficits, struggling more with stopping responses than typically developing peers.
However, they did not show the expected additive impairment across all inhibition types compared to children with only one diagnosis.
Key findings
01Children with comorbid ASD and ADHD required significantly longer warning durations to stop a response compared to typically developing children, indicating impaired reactive inhibition.
02The comorbid group did not show an additive impairment across all inhibition facets; instead, their profile was task-dependent, differing from both the ASD-only and ADHD-only groups in interference control and proactive inhibition.
03There were no significant group differences in motivational inhibition (risk avoidance on a gambling task), although IQ was a significant predictor of performance.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample was relatively small and unevenly distributed across groups. The participants were predominantly Caucasian males from high socioeconomic backgrounds, which limits generalizability. IQ scores differed significantly between groups, with the TD and ADHD groups having higher average IQs than the ASD groups. ADHD diagnoses were not confirmed via psychosocial interviews, relying instead on caregiver reports and questionnaires. Children with ADHD were required to withhold stimulant medication, which may have indirectly impacted performance due to changes in routine or increased distractibility.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest or competing financial interests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that children with comorbid ASD and ADHD have a simple additive combination of inhibition deficits. The study found that their profile was task-dependent and unique, particularly in interference control, where they did not show the expected advantage for congruent trials.