The impact of specific language impairment on working memory in children with ADHD combined subtype

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of comorbid specific language impairment (SLI) on verbal and spatial working memory in children with DSM-IV combined subtype Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD-C). Participants were a clinical sample of 8 1 2 - to 12 1 2 -year-old chi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of clinical neuropsychology 2005-06, Vol.20 (4), p.443-456
Main Authors: Jonsdottir, Solveig, Bouma, Anke, Sergeant, Joseph A., A. Scherder, Erik J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
(Specific) Language impairment
Adolescent
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - complications
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - physiopathology
Attention deficit disorders. Hyperactivity
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Biological and medical sciences
Case-Control Studies
Child
Child clinical studies
Children
Female
Humans
Language and communication disorders
Language Disorders - complications
Language Disorders - physiopathology
Language Tests
Male
Medical sciences
Memory Disorders - diagnosis
Memory Disorders - etiology
Memory Disorders - physiopathology
Mental Recall - physiology
Neuropsychological Tests
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Spatial working memory
Verbal working memory
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Summary:The objective of this study was to examine the impact of comorbid specific language impairment (SLI) on verbal and spatial working memory in children with DSM-IV combined subtype Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD-C). Participants were a clinical sample of 8 1 2 - to 12 1 2 -year-old children diagnosed with ADHD-C. A group of ADHD-C with SLI was compared to a group of ADHD-C without SLI, and a group of normal children, matched on age and nonverbal intelligence. The results show that ADHD-C children with SLI scored significantly lower than those without SLI and normal children, on verbal working memory measures only. Both ADHD groups performed normally on spatial working memory measures. It is concluded that working memory deficits are not a specific characteristic of ADHD but are associated with language impairments. The importance of screening for language disorders in studies of neuropsychological functioning in children with ADHD is emphasized.
ISSN:0887-6177
1873-5843
DOI:10.1016/j.acn.2004.10.004