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Cited by 427Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderDevelopmental and Educational NeuropsychologyReading and Literacy Development

Neuropsychological profiles of adolescents with ADHD: effects of reading difficulties and gender

Rucklidge, Julia J., Tannock, Rosemary·2002·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
DOI 10.1111/1469-7610.00227
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Abstract

Background: Executive function, particularly behavioral inhibition, has been implicated as a core deficit specific to Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) whereas rapid naming has been implicated as a core deficit specific to reading disabilities (RD). Females may be less impaired in executive function although adolescent females with ADHD have yet to be studied. Method: Neuropsychological profiles of four adolescent groups aged 13–16 with equal female representation were investigated: 35 ADHD, 12 RD, 24 ADHD+RD, and 37 normal controls. A semi‐structured interview (K‐SADS‐PL), the Conners Rating Scales and the Ontario Child Health Study Scales were used to diagnose ADHD. RD was defined as a standard score below 90 on at least one of the following: Reading or Spelling of the WRAT3 or Word Attack or Word Identification of the WRMT‐R. The WISC‐III, Rapid Automatized Naming, Stroop and Stop tasks were used as measures of cognitive and executive function. Results: The two ADHD groups (ADHD, ADHD+RD) showed deficits in processing speed, naming of objects, poor behavioral inhibition and greater variability in reaction times whereas the two RD groups (RD, RD+ADHD) showed verbal working memory deficits and slower verbal retrieval speed. Only the comorbid group was slower with naming of numbers and colors and had slower reaction times. Regression analyses indicated that incongruent color naming (Stroop) and variability in go reaction time were the best predictors of hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptoms whereas variability in go reaction time and processing speed were the best predictors of inattentive ADHD symptoms. Speed of letter naming and verbal working memory accounted for the most variability in composite achievement scores. No gender differences were found on any of the cognitive tests. Conclusions: This study challenges the importance of behavioral inhibition deficits in ADHD and that naming deficits are specific to RD. Further investigation into cognitive deficits in these groups is required. ADHD: Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; RD: Reading Difficulties; SES: socio‐economic status; CTRS: Conners' Teacher Rating Scale; OCHSS: Ontario Child Health Study Scales; WRAT: Wide Range Achievement Test; WRMT: Woodcock Reading Mastery Test; MDD: Major Depressive Disorder; SAD: Separation Anxiety Disorder; GAD: Generalized Anxiety Disorder; OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; WISC: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; RAN: Rapid Automatized Naming; SSRT: Stop Signal Reaction Time;

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  • Children have been found to perform more poorly than healthy controls on subtests measuring processing speed due to deficits in focused attention, thus achieving lower scores on PSI.

    “In addition, children have also been found to perform more poorly than healthy controls on subtests measuring processing speed (Chhabildas et al. 2001; Shanahan et al. 2006) due to deficits in focused attention (Rucklidge and Tannock 2002), thus achieving lower scores on PSI (Calhoun and Mayes 2005).”

    From Measurement Invariance of the WISC-V across a Clinical Sample of Children and Adolescents with ADHD and a Matched Control Group (2024) · cites this paper as Rucklidge and Tannock 2002

  • Individual associations between PS and each DSM-V disorder and related dimensional measures implicated PS impairments in ADHD, ASD, and SLD, consistent with prior work.

    “Consistent with prior work, our examination of individual associations between PS and each, DSM-V disorders and their related dimensional measures, implicated PS impairments in attention deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD)8,9,14,25,82,83, autism spectrum (ASD)2,8,9,29,45,47 and specific learning disabilities (SLD)9,10,13,15,16,37.”

    From Diagnostic Associations of Processing Speed in a Transdiagnostic, Pediatric Sample (2020) · cites this paper as [83]

  • Being male was an independent negative predictor for processing speed, while higher socioeconomic status was a positive predictor.

    “being male was an independent negative predictor for processing speed, while higher socioeconomic status was a positive predictor.”

    From Diagnostic Associations of Processing Speed in a Transdiagnostic, Pediatric Sample (2020) · cites this paper as [83]

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Authors
Rucklidge, J. J., & Tannock, R.
Affiliations
Hospital for Sick Children (CA)
Corresponding author
Rucklidge, Julia J.
ORCID
Rucklidge, Julia J.
Venue
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2002-10-28
Volume
43
Issue
8
Pages
988-1003
ISSN
  • 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7610
DOI
10.1111/1469-7610.00227
OpenAlex
W2126506202
Cited by
426
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 22
FWCI
7.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UC Research Repository (University of Canterbury) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
Keywords
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, reading disorders, executive function, behavioral inhibition, rapid automatized naming, processing speed, verbal working memory, reaction time variability, gender differences, comorbidities, adolescents, hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, inattentive symptoms, neuropsychological profile, Stroop task, stop-signal task, socioeconomic status, anxiety disorders, depression
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Analysis of Variance, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Cognition, Dyslexia, Female, Humans, Intelligence, Male, Neuropsychology, Reading, Sex Factors, Wechsler Scales

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