Altered somatosensory processing in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Summary & key facts

Researchers compared about 27 adults diagnosed with ADHD and about 24 adults without ADHD. They measured how the brain and body respond to touch while people rested, stroked their own arm, had their arm stroked by a researcher, or had an object stroked. They also asked people about touch sensitivity and measured ADHD symptoms with a questionnaire and an objective attention/activity test. People with ADHD said they were more touch-sensitive, showed higher scores on the objective ADHD test, tolerated less electrical stimulation to a nerve, and showed bigger changes in brain touch responses when extra touch was added. The brain changes were linked to how severe people’s attention problems were. The authors say this supports the idea that tactile sensitivity and sensory overload are real issues for many adults with ADHD, and that clinicians should pay attention to touch sensitivity when treating patients.

Key facts:

• The study tested 27 adults with ADHD and 24 adults without ADHD using touch tasks, questionnaires about touch, and an objective attention/activity test.
• People with ADHD reported more sensitivity to touch than controls and also scored higher on measures of ADHD symptoms.
• On an objective test, people with ADHD had higher ADHD-related scores and a lower tolerance for an electrical nerve stimulus, meaning the stimulation became uncomfortable at lower levels.
• Brain recordings of responses to touch showed that adding extra touch led to a larger reduction in cortical (brain) touch signals in the ADHD group compared with controls.
• The size of the brain response changes was linked to how severe a person’s attention problems were, suggesting a specific connection to inattention.
• The authors conclude that tactile sensitivity and a tendency to become overloaded by touch can affect daily functioning and quality of life for many adults with ADHD, and they suggest clinicians consider this when treating patients.

Abstract

We find that ADHD symptomatology and touch sensitivity are directly linked, using both self-reports and experimental measures. We also find evidence of tactile sensory overload in ADHD, and an indication that this is linked to inattention specifically. Tactile sensitivity and sensory overload impact the functioning and life quality of many people with ADHD, and clinicians should consider this when treating their patients.

Topics

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Psychiatry and Mental health

Tags

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Audiology Clinical psychology Cognitive psychology Medicine Neuroscience Psychiatry Psychology Somatosensory system

Conditions & symptoms

ADHD Difficulty focusing