Translation to Malayalam language and validation of Vanderbilt attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnostic parent rating scale: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20260409Keywords:
Child development, Cross-cultural comparison, PsychometricsAbstract
Background: There is a need for validated translations of tools in regional languages, to ensure uniformity in the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study aimed to translate Vanderbilt ADHD diagnostic parent rating scale (VADPRS) into Malayalam and validate it against INCLEN diagnostic tool for ADHD (INDT-ADHD).
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care referral center for child development and behavioral disorders, during the period of January 2022 to August 2022. Hundred and three (n=103) children in age group of 6-12 years with symptoms suggestive of ADHD were included. Parents who were unable to read Malayalam and children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and/or intellectual disability were excluded. Malayalam version of VADPRS was derived through forward-backward translation ensuring content, semantic, and technical validity. Validation of this translated tool was done against INDT-ADHD. As part of psychometric testing, interviews with parents and clinical examination of the children were done. Reliability and validity of the tool was analyzed by appropriate statistical methods.
Results: The translated Malayalam version of VADPRS tool identified 90.3% of children had ADHD. The factor-analysis demonstrated a 2-factor structure. Discriminant validity assessed using student’s t test, showed statistically significant mean difference between two extreme groups (p=0.001). Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.994 showing good test-retest reliability. The Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.997 indicating good internal consistency. Scale content validity index was significant with value of 0.95. The tool had a sensitivity of 98.95% (95% CI; 94.27%-99.97%) and high specificity. Negative predictive value of the tool was 90% (95% CI; 56.16%-98.44%).
Conclusions: Translated version of VADPRS showed good validity against INDT-ADHD. It can be recommended for use in the Malayalam speaking population to help in diagnostic process of children with ADHD.
Metrics
References
Wolraich ML, Hagan JF Jr, Allan C, Chan E, Davison D, Earls M, et al. Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2019;144(4):e20192528. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-2528
Sharma P, Gupta RK, Banal R, Majeed M, Kumari R, Langer B, et al. Prevalence and correlates of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) risk factors among school children in a rural area of North India. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(1):115-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_587_19
Guide to NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scales. Available at: https://nichq.org/downloadable/nichq-vanderbilt-assessment-scales/. Accessed 10 Dec 2021.
Anderson NP, Feldman JA, Kolko DJ, Pilkonis PA, Lindhiem O. National norms for the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale in children. J Pediatr Psychol. 2022;47(6):652-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsab132
Wolraich ML, Lambert W, Doffing MA, Bickman L, Simmons T, Worley K. Psychometric properties of the Vanderbilt ADHD diagnostic parent rating scale in a referred population. J Pediatr Psychol. 2003;28(8):559-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsg046
Wolraich ML, Bard DE, Neas B, Doffing M, Beck L. The psychometric properties of the Vanderbilt attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnostic teacher rating scale in a community population. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2013;34(2):83-93. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0b013e31827d55c3
Skounti M, Philalithis A, Galanakis E. Variations in prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder worldwide. Eur J Pediatr. 2007;166(2):117-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0299-5
Sperber AD. Translation and validation of study instruments for cross-cultural research. Gastroenterology. 2004;126(1-1):S124-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2003.10.016
Menon V, Praharaj SK. Translation or development of a rating scale: plenty of science, a bit of art. Indian J Psychol Med. 2019;41(6):503-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_418_19
World Health Organization. WHODAS 2.0 translation package. Available at: https://terrance.who.int/mediacentre/data/WHODAS/Guidelines/WHODAS%202.0%20Translation%20guidelines.pdf. Accessed on 10 December 2025.
Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS): original English tool. Available at: https://upa.wustl.edu/app/uploads/2015/09/ADHD_Assessment_NICHQ.pdf. Accessed on 10 December 2025.
Mukherjee S, Aneja S, Russell PS, Gulati S, Deshmukh V, Sagar R, et al. INCLEN diagnostic tool for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (INDT-ADHD): development and validation. Indian Pediatr. 2014;51(6):457-62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-014-0436-6
Kapogiannis A, Makris G, Darviri C. The Greek version of the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale for follow-up assessment in prepubertal children with ADHD. Int J Disabil Dev Educ. 2022;69(5):1726-35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2020.1802647
Sebalo Vňuková M, Sebalo I, Anders M, Ptáček R, Surman C. Psychometric properties of the Czech version of the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale. J Atten Disord. 2023;27(10):1075-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547231167567
Luisa YD, Rochelle P, Madeleine GS. Validation of the Filipino translation of the Vanderbilt ADHD Parent Rating Scale in the diagnosis of ADHD in Filipino children. Health Res (HERDIN). Available at: https://www.herdin.ph/index.php?view=research &cid=51691&layout=default_full. Accessed 10 December 2025.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
