Language Deficit With Attention-Deficit Disorder: A Prevalent Comorbidity
Abstract
The aim of this study was to delineate the prevalence and behavioral patterns of children with attention-deficit and language problems as compared to children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) only Out of a cohort of 3208 children 6 to 11 years old, 5.2% were identified as having a primary ADHD. A teacher's behavioral questionnaire, pediatric interview and assessment, IQ, attention tests, and language evaluation were employed. A 45% rate of language problems was identified. This comorbidity is more prevalent among girls (P = .02). Sequencing and short-term memory were significantly related to attention-deficit and language problems, but the attention scores were not. Language performance was the best predictor of group assignment and was superior to IQ in that regard. Correlation analysis revealed a different behavioral pattern for the two groups. It appears that a significant proportion of children with ADHD have a language comorbidity not reflected by IQ assessments; therefore, language tests should be considered as part of their routine assessment. Children with attention-deficit and language problems appear to have a different neurocognitive pattern underlying their problems as compared with their peers with ADHD only. ( J Child Neurol 1998;13:493-497).
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Language impairment is common in children with ADHD and academic underachievement, with co-occurrence around 45%.
“Language Impairment (LI) is highly prevalent in children with ADHD and academic underachievement, co-occurring at a rate of approximately 45% (Beitchman, Wilson, Brownlie, Watlters, & Lancee, 1996; Cohen et al., 2000; Tirosh & Cohen, 1998; Tomblin, Zhang, Buckwalter, & Catts, 2000).”
From Semantic Language as a Mechanism Explaining the Association between ADHD Symptoms and Reading and Mathematics Underachievement (2012) · cites this paper as Tirosh & Cohen, 1998
Cites
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Williams, J. B. W., & First, M. B. (2013) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.104 · Cited by 109,841 · see citing works
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
American Psychiatric Association (2022) · doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787 · Cited by 23,476 · see citing works
(1991) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.148.5.564 · Cited by 1,738 · see citing works
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
(2012) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/springerreference_70151 · Cited by 1,671 · see citing works
Information processing in the child: Significance of analytic and reflective attitudes.
Kagan, J., Rosman, B. L., Day, D., Albert, J. A., & Phillips, W. A. (1964) · The Psychological Monographs · doi:10.1037/h0093830 · Cited by 1,121 · see citing works
The development and neural bases of higher cognitive functions
Diamond, A. (1990) · Works - Scholarship, Research, & Creative Expression (Swarthmore College) · Cited by 446 · see citing works
Dimensions and types of attention deficit disorder
LAHEY, B. B., PELHAM, W. E., SCHAUGHENCY, E. A., ATKINS, M. S., MURPHY, H. A., HYND, G., RUSSO, M., HARTDAGEN, S., & LORYS-VERNON, A. (1988) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/00004583-198805000-00011 · Cited by 313 · see citing works
Porteus Maze Test: Fifty Years Application
Porteus, S. D. (1965) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 311 · see citing works
Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in Children with Speech and Language Disorders
BEITCHMAN, J. H., NAIR, R., CLEGG, M., FERGUSON, B., & PATEL, P. G. (1986) · Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0002-7138(10)60013-1 · Cited by 302 · see citing works
Silva, P. A., Williams, S., & McGee, R. O. (1987) · Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.1987.tb08505.x · Cited by 298 · see citing works
Berry, C. A., Shaywitz, S. E., & Shaywitz, B. A. (1985) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.76.5.801 · Cited by 262 · see citing works
Attention Deficit Disorder and Specific Reading Disability: Separate but Often Overlapping Disorders
Dykman, R. A., & Ackerman, P. T. (1991) · Journal of Learning Disabilities · doi:10.1177/002221949102400206 · Cited by 253 · see citing works
Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scale
Ma, X. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-99-6000-2_862-1 · Cited by 206 · see citing works
The Epidemiology of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders
Szatmári, P. (1992) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/s1056-4993(18)30592-3 · Cited by 184 · see citing works
Validity of the Diagnostic Category of Attention Deficit Disorder Without Hyperactivity
Lahey, B. B., & Carlson, C. L. (1991) · Journal of Learning Disabilities · doi:10.1177/002221949102400208 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
Behavioral and Cognitive Subtypes of ADHD
August, G. J., & Garfinkel, B. D. (1989) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/00004583-198909000-00016 · Cited by 168 · see citing works
Attention Deficit Disorder Without Hyperactivity: A Distinct Behavioral and Neurocognitive Syndrome
Hynd, G. W., Lorys, A. R., Semrud‐Clikeman, M., Nieves, N., Huettner, M. I. S., & Lahey, B. B. (1991) · Journal of Child Neurology · doi:10.1177/0883073891006001s05 · Cited by 166 · see citing works
Defining and Classifying Learning Disabilities and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Shaywitz, B. A., Fletcher, J. M., & Shaywitz, S. E. (1995) · Journal of Child Neurology · doi:10.1177/08830738950100s111 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS AND LANGUAGE ABILITIES AT THREE YEARS AND BEHAVIOURAL DEVIANCE AT EIGHT YEARS
Stevenson, J., Richman, N., & Graham, P. (1985) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.1985.tb02261.x · Cited by 162 · see citing works
Comorbidity of Diagnosis in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Biederman, J., Faraone, S. V., & Lapey, K. A. (1992) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/s1056-4993(18)30591-1 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Comorbidity of Central Auditory Processing Disorder and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Riccio, C. A., Hynd, G. W., Cohen, M. J., Hall, J., & Molt, L. F. (1994) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/00004583-199407000-00011 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Language Disorders in Children Referred for Psychiatric Services
Gualtieri, C. T., Koriath, U., Bourgondien, M. E. V., & SALEEBY, N. (1983) · Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0002-7138(09)62330-x · Cited by 129 · see citing works
A Critique of Current Diagnostic Criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Barkley, R. A. (1990) · Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics · doi:10.1097/00004703-199012000-00014 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Barkley, R. A. (1990) · PubMed · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Silver, L. B. (1981) · Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0002-7138(09)60996-1 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Cantwell, D. P., & Baker, L. (1987) · Journal of Communication Disorders · doi:10.1016/0021-9924(87)90006-2 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Prevalence of Unsuspected Language Disorders in a Child Psychiatric Population
Cohen, N. J., Davine, M., & MELOCHE-KELLY, M. (1989) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/00004583-198901000-00020 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence
National Cancer Institute (2020) · Definitions · doi:10.32388/1c0ktj · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Clinical differentiation among children with initial language complaints
Chess, S., & Rosenberg, M. (1974) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/bf02105364 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Swisher, L. P., & Sarno, M. T. (1969) · Cortex · doi:10.1016/s0010-9452(69)80034-1 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Teacher-Identified Oral Language Difficulties among Boys with Attention Problems
Humphries, T., Koltun, H., MALONE, M. A., & Roberts, W. (1994) · Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics · doi:10.1097/00004703-199404000-00005 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Goldman-fristoe-woodcock auditory skills test battery
Carroll, J. L. (1979) · Journal of School Psychology · doi:10.1016/0022-4405(79)90015-3 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Venables, P. H., Fletcher, R. P., Dalais, J. C., et al. (1983) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.1983.tb00570.x · Cited by 46 · see citing works
The developmental role of vocalizing in short-term memory
Conrad, R. (1972) · Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior · doi:10.1016/s0022-5371(72)80035-5 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Attention Deficits in School-Aged Children and Adolescents: Current Issues and Practice
Kelly, D. P., & Aylward, G. P. (1992) · Pediatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/s0031-3955(16)38340-7 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Phonological Processes and Other Routes
Swanson, H. L. (1989) · Journal of Learning Disabilities · doi:10.1177/002221948902200808 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Montgomery, J. W. (1992) · Pediatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/s0031-3955(16)38341-9 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Nation, J. E. (1972) · Journal of Psycholinguistic Research · doi:10.1007/bf01074438 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Halperin, J. M., & Schulz, K. P. (2006) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.132.4.560 · Cited by 446 · see citing works
McInnes, A., Humphries, T., Hogg-Johnson, S., & Tannock, R. (2003) · Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology · doi:10.1023/a:1023895602957 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
Halperin, J. M., & Healey, D. M. (2011) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.07.006 · Cited by 237 · see citing works
Kaplan, B. J., Dewey, D. M., Crawford, S. G., & Wilson, B. N. (2001) · Journal of Learning Disabilities · doi:10.1177/002221940103400608 · Cited by 230 · see citing works
ADHD and language impairment: A study of the parent questionnaire FTF (Five to Fifteen)
Bruce, B., Thernlund, G., & Nettelbladt, U. (2006) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-006-0508-9 · Cited by 180 · see citing works
Bental, B., & Tirosh, E. (2007) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01710.x · Cited by 165 · see citing works
Self-citationLanguage Problems in Children with ADHD: A Community-Based Study
Sciberras, E., Mueller, K. L., Efron, D., Bisset, M., Anderson, V., Schilpzand, E. J., Jongeling, B., & Nicholson, J. M. (2014) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2013-3355 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Examining the Comorbidity of Language Impairment and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Mueller, K. L., & Tomblin, J. B. (2012) · Topics in Language Disorders · doi:10.1097/tld.0b013e318262010d · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Gremillion, M. L., & Martel, M. M. (2012) · Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology · doi:10.1007/s10802-012-9650-7 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Rajendran, K., Rindskopf, D., O'Neill, S., Marks, D. J., Nomura, Y., & Halperin, J. M. (2013) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0034237 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
“First, ADHD children show deficits across many domains of neuropsychological functioning including memory (Felton, Wood, Brown, Campbell, & Harter, 1987), motor (Blondis, 1999; Steger et al., 2001), language (Purvis & Tannock, 1997; Tirosh & Cohen, 1998), and visuomotor precision (Raggio, 1999).”
BackgroundOliva, J., Serrano, J. I., del Castillo, M. D., & Iglesias, Á. (2014) · Artificial Intelligence in Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.artmed.2014.04.002 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
- Authors
- Tirosh, E., & Cohen, A.
- Affiliations
- Bnai Zion Medical Center (IL)
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (IL)
- ORCID
- Tirosh, Emanuel
- Venue
- Journal of Child Neurology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1998-10
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 493-497
- ISSN
- 0883-0738 (ISSN-L)
- 1708-8283
- OpenAlex
- W2046695786
- Cited by
- 165
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 1.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Child Neurology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- 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 › Language Development and Disorders
- Keywords
- attention deficit disorder, language deficits, comorbidities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, children, prevalence, sex differences, short-term memory, sequencing, language assessment, behavioral patterns
- MeSH terms
- Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Female, Humans, Intelligence, Language Disorders, Male, Memory, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Prevalence
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review