Conditions: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Reading Disabilities
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 222
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The objective of this randomized clinical trial is to address unanswered questions about the relative effectiveness of treatments for children with both Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and significant reading difficulties (RD). The study evaluates attentional and word reading outcomes for students with both conditions when provided with either (a) ADHD treatment alone, (b) RD treatment alone, or (c) the combination of ADHD and RD treatment.

Detailed description:
The objective of this randomized clinical trial is to address unanswered questions about the relative effectiveness of treatments for children with both Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and significant reading difficulties (RD). The study evaluates attentional and word reading outcomes for students with both conditions when provided with either (a) disorder-specific ADHD treatment (carefully managed medication + parent training), (b) disorder-specific RD treatment (intensive, individualized reading instruction), or (c) the combination of ADHD and RD treatment. The study aims to address the relative benefits of providing either disorder-specific ADHD or RD treatment alone and providing the combined treatment. The investigators hypothesize that the combined treatment approach will result in better outcomes in terms of both word reading/decoding and a reduction in ADHD symptoms than either of the disorder-specific treatments alone. Treatment will last for 16 weeks, with assessment prior to and following treatment and some measures collected regularly throughout the intervention periods.

Arms:
arm 1: Specialized phonologically-based reading instruction provided by well-trained tutors either individually (one-on-one) or to groups of two students for 45 minutes, four days per week, for 16 weeks. The instructional approach includes an individualized combination of published programs targeting word reading and decoding; reading fluency; and reading comprehension. arm 2: Carefully-managed medication and behavioral parent training. Medication treatment begins with a four-week titration period, beginning with a trial of methylphenidate. If benefit is insufficient or side effects are intolerable, the physician may initiate a trial of mixed salt amphetamine, followed by either Atomoxetine or Guanfacine. When the optimum medication and dosage is determined the child returns for monthly medication maintenance visits until the end of the 16-week intervention period. Parent training consists of nine group sessions provided by a psychologist addressing ADHD and its treatment, principals of behavior modification, and evidence-supported practices for managing behavior. arm 3: All interventions described in Reading Instruction and ADHD treatment arms:

Phonologically-based reading instruction provided for 45 minutes, four days per week, for 16 weeks. Carefully-managed medication and behavioral parent training. Medication treatment begins with a trial of methylphenidate. If benefit is insufficient or side effects are intolerable, the physician may initiate a trial of mixed salt amphetamine, followed by either Atomoxetine or Guanfacine. When the optimum medication and dosage is determined the child returns for monthly medication maintenance visits until the end of the 16-week intervention period. Parent training consists of nine group sessions on parenting a child with ADHD.

Interventions: intervention 1: Methylphenidate intervention 2: Intensive reading instruction intervention 3: Parent Training intervention 4: Mixed Salt Amphetamine intervention 5: Atomoxetine intervention 6: Guanfacine
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Appropriate dosage to be individually determined; daily for 16 weeks intervention 2: Individualized phonologically-based instruction delivered 4 days per week for 45 min. per day by a highly trained tutor. intervention 3: Nine sessions on parenting a child with ADHD intervention 4: Appropriate dosage to be individually determined; daily for 16 weeks; prescribed only if child does not show a beneficial treatment response to Concerta intervention 5: Appropriate dosage to be individually determined; daily for 16 weeks intervention 6: Appropriate dosage to be individually determined; daily for 16 weeks

Protocol document: