Longitudinal Assessment of Neurocognitive Function in Children with ADHD

Over a 4-year period, intellectual functioning stayed stable, but academic skills declined in over half of a small cohort of children.

Although some children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show symptom improvement as they grow, it is estimated that over half continue to meet the criteria for ADHD in adulthood. To understand trajectories of ADHD symptoms and academic functioning, researchers conducted standardized tests of intellectual, academic, and executive functioning in 55 children with ADHD (mean age at baseline, 8 years) and repeated the same tests 4 years later.

In individual-level analyses, intellect (IQ) stayed stable, but a significant proportion of children showed declines in academic skills, including age-standardized reading (24%), spelling (27%), and arithmetic (22%). More than half (51%) of children showed academic declines in at least o…

Reviewing Author

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Longitudinal Assessment of Neurocognitive Function in Children with ADHD

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Reviewing Author