Driving Characteristics of Teens With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Authors

Sherrilene Classen, School of Occupational Therapy, Elborn CollegeFollow
Miriam Monahan, Institute for Mobility, Activity and Participation, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, GainesvilleFollow
Yanning Wang, Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville

Document Type

Article

Source

American Journal of Occupational Therapy

ISSN

0272-9490

Volume

67

Issue

6

First Page

664

Last Page

673

Publication Date

2013

Department

Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among teens. Teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or both (ADHD–ASD) may have a greater crash risk. We examined the between-groups demographic, clinical, and predriving performance differences of 22 teens with ADHD– ASD (mean age 5 15.05, standard deviation [SD] 5 0.95) and 22 healthy control (HC) teens (mean age 5 14.32, SD 5 0.72). Compared with HC teens, the teens with ADHD–ASD performed more poorly on righteye visual acuity, selective attention, visual–motor integration, cognition, and motor performance and made more errors on the driving simulator pertaining to visual scanning, speed regulation, lane maintenance, adjustment to stimuli, and total number of driving errors. Teens with ADHD–ASD, compared with HC teens, may have more predriving deficits and as such require the skills of a certified driving rehabilitation specialist to assess readiness to drive.

Rights

Copyright © 2013 American Occupational Therapy Association. All rights reserved.

PubMed ID

24195900