Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and narrative discourse in older adults

ABSTRACT Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) encompasses other symptoms besides inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, such as language problems. ADHD can have a non-remitting course and is also found in older individuals, although there are no studies on language problems in elderly individuals with the disorder. Objective: To investigate the presence of language impairment in older adults with ADHD. Methods: Language impairment was investigated in three older ADHD adults, and compared with two matched control subjects using a narrative discourse task. The transcript discourses were evaluated based on the Trabasso Model for discourse analysis, and then processed by the Speech Graph Analysis software. Results: Compared to control subjects, ADHD patient discourse had more Plot components and their networks exhibited more Edges. The patients had higher scores on the Narrative Inefficiency, Density and Diameter Indexes as well as on the Average Clustering Coefficient. The networks of control subjects were sequential, with little or no recursiveness, whereas those of ADHD subjects were convoluted. Conclusion: Our results suggest that language deficits described in children, adolescents and young adults with ADHD may persist in older adults with the disorder.

摘要：注意缺陷多动障碍（Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD）除典型的注意力不集中、多动与冲动症状外，还可伴随语言障碍等其他表现。该病症可呈慢性持续性病程，且可见于老年群体，但目前尚无针对该病老年患者语言问题的相关研究。
研究目的：探究ADHD老年患者是否存在语言损伤。
研究方法：纳入3名老年ADHD成年患者，采用叙事话语任务，将其与2名匹配的对照受试者进行对比；基于特拉巴索话语分析模型（Trabasso Model）对受试者的话语转录文本进行评估，并通过话语图谱分析软件（Speech Graph Analysis software）完成处理。
研究结果：与对照组相比，ADHD患者的话语包含更多情节单元，其话语网络的边数量更多；患者在叙事低效指数、密度指数、直径指数以及平均聚类系数上的得分均更高。对照组的话语网络具有序列性特征，几乎无或完全不存在递归性，而ADHD患者的话语网络则更为复杂迂回。
研究结论：本研究结果提示，此前在儿童、青少年及青年ADHD患者中报道的语言缺陷，可能同样存在于该病的老年患者群体中。