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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Jun 9.
Published in final edited form as: Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2020 May 22;59(9-10):874–884. doi: 10.1177/0009922820924692

Table 4.

Adjusted Odds Ratios of School Performance by Each Vanderbilt ADHD Parent Rating Scale (VAPRS) Inattentive Symptom, 2014 National Survey of the Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD and Tourette Syndromea.

Problematic or somewhat problematic school performance
Overall Mathematics Reading Writing Handwriting
ADHD inattentive symptoms AOR (95% CL) AOR (95% CL) AOR (95% CL) AOR (95% CL) AOR (95% CL)
1. Does not pay attention to details or makes careless mistakes, such as in homework 3.66 (2.52–5.32) 1.61 (1.11–2.34) 2.34 (1.57–3.49) 2.35 (1.66–3.32) 1.87 (1.32–2.65)
2. Had difficulty sustaining attention to tasks or activities 3.22 (2.23–4.67) 1.68 (1.16–2.42) 1.83 (1.25–2.68) 2.01 (1.42–2.83) 1.98 (1.41–2.79)
3. Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly 2.24 (1.59–3.17) 1.24 (0.86–1.77) 2.04 (1.39–3.01) 2.12 (1.52–2.97) 1.52 (1.08–2.12)
4. Does not follow through on instruction and fails to finish schoolwork (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand) 4.66 (3.24–6.70) 1.63 (1.14–2.34) 1.93 (1.33–2.81) 2.04 (1.47–2.85) 1.68 (1.21–2.32)
5. Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities 4.14 (2.84–6.03) 1.24 (0.86–1.81) 1.93 (1.32–2.84) 1.95 (1.38–2.75) 1.99 (1.41–2.81)
6. Avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort 2.25 (1.58–3.20) 1.81 (1.26–2.61) 1.89 (1.29–2.76) 1.99 (1.42–2.78) 1.58 (1.13–2.21)
7. Loses things necessary for tasks or activities (school assignments, pencils, or books) 3.09 (2.16–4.42) 1.38 (0.96–1.99) 2.25 (1.54–3.28) 2.24 (1.59–3.15) 2.08 (1.49–2.90)
8. Is easily distracted by extraneous stimuli 3.31 (2.22–4.95) 1.73 (1.15–2.61) 2.08 (1.38–3.14) 1.81 (1.25–2.60) 1.59 (1.11–2.29)
9. Is forgetful in daily activities 3.06 (2.18–4.30) 1.71 (1.20–2.43) 1.85 (1.27–2.69) 2.06 (1.48–2.88) 1.76 (1.26–2.45)
Does not have ADHDb 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00

Abbreviations: ADHD, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; AOR, adjusted odds ratio; CL, confidence limit.

a

Each model of the symptom question controlled for age, sex, race/ethnicity, family poverty level, hyperactive symptoms, and chronic conditions/disorders: anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, language disorder, and learning disorder.

b

Children who do not have ADHD served as the referent group.