Crossing the Street May Be Riskier for ADHD Kids

July 25, 2011 — Mom always said to look both ways before crossing the street, and this is still great safety advice, but it may not be sufficient for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

These children are at increased risk of being struck by a car when crossing the street because they sometimes make incorrect decisions about when to cross the street and how long it will take to get to the other side, according to a new study in Pediatrics.

Up to 5% of children and adults in the U.S. have ADHD, a behavioral disorder marked by impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and inattention. Children with untreated ADHD are at risk for injury, substance abuse, poor school performance, and emotional and social problems.

"I came in thinking that kids with ADHD probably won't look left and right before they cross, but they did display appropriate curbside behavior," says Despina Stavrinos, PhD, an assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Injury Control Research Center. "The big difference occurred in the outcome of cross."

The 78 children in the study were aged 7 to 10. Researchers tested the children's street-crossing prowess using a simulated street scene with vehicles approaching from the left and right. All the children looked left and right before crossing and waited to cross. But the 39 children with ADHD did experience more "close calls" with oncoming traffic and had less time to spare when they reached the other side of the street...

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