OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of an exercise-based treatment programme (dyslexia, dyspraxia and attention-deficit treatment, DDAT) on various subtypes of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODNinety-one ADHD children with standing balance dysfunction (ADHD-I 43, ADHD-HI 15 and ADHD-C 33) were given DDAT for 6 months, the efficacy of DDAT was evaluated before DDAT, three, six months after the treatment and three month after end of the treatment according to SNAP-IV, before and after the treatment by balancing function test and Conners Parents Rating Scale.

RESULTInattention subscale scores of ADHD-I, ADHD-HI and ADHD-C before and after the interventions were 1.99 ± 0.34, 0.96 ± 0.31, 2.17 ± 0.31and 1.19 ± 0.45, 0.81 ± 0.28, 1.32 ± 0.37, differences of ADHD-I and ADHD-C were significant (P < 0.05), hyperactivity subscale scores of three subtypes of ADHD were 0.81 ± 0.35, 2.01 ± 0.35, 1.96 ± 0.33 vs.0.45 ± 0.33, 0.79 ± 0.41, 1.10 ± 0.35, there were significant differences as well (P < 0.05). The score of hyperactivity symptom was reduced more compared to that of inattention symptom by the SNAP-IV scale parent forms. There were significant difference before and after the treatment based on Conners parent scale for conduct problem (1.11 ± 0.48 vs. 0.76 ± 0.44) , learning problem (1.97 ± 0.58 vs.1.60 ± 0.67), psychosomatic problems (0.61 ± 0.49 vs. 0.29 ± 0.35) , activity/ hyperactivity (1.46 ± 0.69 vs.1.09 ± 0.55) and anxiousness (1.05 ± 0.63 vs.0.62 ± 0.47) as well (P < 0.05); the standing balance dysfunction improved for most of the children, total effective rate was 87.9%, no significant difference was found among the three subtypes (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDDAT is a safe and efficient intervention for the ADHD children with standing balance dysfunction, the improvement on hyperactivity symptom was better than that on inattention symptom. This study shows that an exercise-based treatment programme for cerebellum function improves symptoms of ADHD and balance function.