Julia J. Rucklidge|Rosemary Tannock
Neuropsychological profiles of adolescents with ADHD: effects of reading difficulties and gender
Hospital for Sick Children|Hospital for Sick Children
executive function particularly behavioral inhibition implicated core deficit specific attentiondeficithyperactivity disorder adhd whereas rapid naming implicated core deficit specific reading disabilities rd females may less impaired executive function although adolescent females adhd yet studiedneuropsychological profiles four adolescent groups aged 1316 equal female representation investigated 35 adhd 12 rd 24 adhdrd 37 normal controls semistructured interview ksadspl conners rating scales ontario child health study scales used diagnose adhd rd defined standard score 90 least one following reading spelling wrat3 word attack word identification wrmtr wisciii rapid automatized naming stroop stop tasks used measures cognitive executive functionthe two adhd groups adhd adhdrd showed deficits processing speed naming objects poor behavioral inhibition greater variability reaction times whereas two rd groups rd rdadhd showed verbal working memory deficits slower verbal retrieval speed comorbid group slower naming numbers colors slower reaction times regression analyses indicated incongruent color naming stroop variability go reaction time best predictors hyperactiveimpulsive adhd symptoms whereas variability go reaction time processing speed best predictors inattentive adhd symptoms speed letter naming verbal working memory accounted variability composite achievement scores gender differences found cognitive teststhis study challenges importance behavioral inhibition deficits adhd naming deficits specific rd investigation cognitive deficits groups required