Neuropsychological Function of Children and Adolescents With ADHD: Group and Individual Change Four Years After Diagnosis

Abstract

The present study compared the intellectual, academic, and neuropsychological performance of 55 children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with that of an age and gender matched control 4 years after initial diagnosis. The performance of the ADHD group at initial-assessment and at four years follow-up was also compared at both the group and individual levels of analysis. Cross-sectional comparisons indicated the ADHD sample performed less well than controls on measures of intellectual function, academic achievement, and on some neuropsychological measures. Subgroup analyses suggested participants whose symptoms had remitted were less impaired relative to controls. Longitudinal group comparisons found little evidence of change over the course of the study. However, higher than expected proportions of reliable change at an individual level were observed for intellectual function and especially for academic achievement.