Driving indicators in teens with attention deficit hyperactivity and/or autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Background.

Motor vehicle crashes are leading causes of death among teens. Those teens with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or a dual diagnosis of ADHD/ASD have defining characteristics placing them at a greater risk for crashes.

Purpose.

This study examined the between-group demographic, clinical, and simulated driving differences in teens, representing three diagnostic groups, compared to healthy controls (HCs).

Method.

In this prospective observational study, we used a convenience sample of teens recruited from a variety of community settings.

Findings.

Compared to the 22 HCs (mean age = 14.32, SD = ±.72), teen drivers representing the diagnostic groups (ADHD/ASD, n = 6, mean age = 15.00, SD = ±.63; ADHD, n = 9, mean age = 15.00, SD = ±1.00; ASD, n = 7, mean age = 15.14, SD = ±.1.22) performed poorer on visual function, visual-motor integration, cognition, and motor performance and made more errors on the driving simulator.

Implications.

Teens from diagnostic groups have more deficits driving on a driving simulator and may require a comprehensive driving evaluation.

Description.

Les accidents de la route sont les principales causes de décès chez les jeunes. Les jeunes ayant un trouble du déficit de l’attention avec hyperactivité (TDAH), un trouble du spectre autistique (TSA) ou un double diagnostic ont des caractéristiques déterminantes qui les exposent à de plus grands risques d’accidents.

But.

Cette étude examinait les différences démographiques, cliniques et simulées en matière de conduite automobile entre des adolescents représentant trois groupes de diagnostics et des témoins sains.

Méthodologie.

Dans cette étude prospective fondée sur l’observation, nous avons utilisé un échantillon de commodité composé d’adolescents recrutés dans divers milieux communautaires.

Résultats.

Comparativement aux 22 sujets sains (âge moyen = 14,32, É-T = ± 0,72), les conducteurs adolescents représentant les groupes de diagnostics (TDAH/TSA n = 6, âge moyen = 15,00, É-T = ± 0,63; TDAH n = 9, âge moyen = 15,00, É-T = ±1,00; TSA n = 7, âge moyen = 15,14, É-T = ±1,22) ont obtenu un rendement plus faible en ce qui a trait à la fonction visuelle, l’intégration visuo-motrice, la cognition et le rendement moteur; ils ont aussi fait plus d’erreurs lors de l’utilisation du simulateur de conduite.

Conséquences.

Les adolescents des groupes de diagnostics ont plus de déficits lorsqu’ils conduisent le simulateur de conduite et il serait sans doute judicieux de leur faire passer une évaluation complète de la conduite automobile.

Keywords

Adolescents Attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity Automobile driving Pervasive developmental disorders adolescents conduite automobile trouble du déficit de l’attention avec hyperactivité troubles envahissants du développement

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