Speech-language pathology findings in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: a systematic literature review

Purpose  To systematically review the scientific production on the relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Speech-language Pathology and to methodologically analyze the observational studies on the theme.

Research strategies  Systematic review of the literature conducted at the databases Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System online (MEDLINE, USA), Literature of Latin America and the Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS, Brazil) and Spanish Bibliographic Index of Health Sciences (IBECS, Spain) using the descriptors: “Language”, “Language Development”, “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”, “ADHD” and “Auditory Perception”.

Selection criteria  Articles published between 2008 and 2013. Inclusion criteria: full articles published in national and international journals from 2008 to 2013. Exclusion criteria: articles not focused on the speech-language pathology alterations present in the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Data analysis  The articles were read in full and the data were extracted for characterization of methodology and content.

Results  The 23 articles found were separated according to two themes: Speech-language Pathology and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Conclusion  The study of the scientific production revealed that the alterations most commonly discussed were reading disorders and that there are few reports on the relationship between auditory processing and these disorders, as well as on the role of the speech-language pathologist in the evaluation and treatment of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Keywords
Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Language; Auditory Perception; Child