Application of two questionnaires for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder screening in school children

Objective: Apply two questionnaires to screen attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their subtypes in students with academic underachievement to evaluate the agreement between them for screening for hyperactivity and attention deficit. Methods: Application of questionnaires SNAP-IV and Conner´s Scale Brazilian version in students enrolled in publics schools in Cascavel City, PR, Brazil. Another analyzed variables were gender, age, grade, and body mass index. Results: The mean age was 8.9 years, 69.2% of the participants were male, most had normal weight and were concentrated between the 3rd and 5th grades. Association was observed in the relationship between age and attention deficit by the Conner’s Scale, with higher prevalence in older children. The agreement between the Conner’s Scale and the SNAP-IV questionnaire for the diagnosis of hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder was low. Conclusion: ADHD symptoms occur in childhood, and most children with ADHD will continue to have symptoms and impairments throughout their lives. Pediatricians should be prepared to manage mild to moderate grades of ADHD, considering the restricted access to mental health services in Brazil.