ADHD kids have trouble crossing street safely, study says

(CBS) Look both ways before crossing the street. That familiar advice might keep most children safe - but not those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

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Kids with ADHD are at high risk for injury in pedestrian accidents because they have trouble figuring out safe places to cross - and how long it takes to reach the other side safely, according to a new study.

For the study - published online July 25 in the journal Pediatrics - researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham used computer simulations of busy streets to test the street-crossing savvy of 78 children between seven and 10 years of age, half of whom had ADHD. The kids with ADHD were asked to forgo their medication for 24 hours before the test.

What happened? All the kids looked left and right before crossing, WebMD reported. But those with ADHD experienced more close calls. Why? Because "kids with ADHD left much less time to spare to cross," said study author Dr. Despina Stavrinos, assistant professor of medicine at the university.

"This study reinforces the notion that kids with ADHD are more at risk in certain situations," Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park, N.Y., told HealthDay.

Dr. Stavrinos said parents may get a false sense of security when they see a child with ADHD look both ways before crossing. Parents might want to test the child's street-crossing abilities by standing with him/her at the curb and asking him/her when it seems safe to cross, she told WebMD.

SafeKids.org has more on pedestrian safety for children.