Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition Profiles in Child and Adolescent with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder : Retrospective Study

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate Korean Wechsler Intelligence profiles and specific abilities related to attention problem of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: The Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-fourth edition (K-WISC-IV) and Advanced Test of Attention (ATA) were administered to 91 children and adolescents (age 8.5+/-2.6 years, 73 boys) with ADHD. Pearson correlation and independent t-tests were used. RESULTS: The means of Working Memory Index (WMI) and Processing Speed Index (PSI) showed a score of low average in K-WISC-IV. WMI scores for the K-WISC-IV showed clinically significant correlations with omission errors, commission errors, and response time variability on auditory ATA. PSI scores also showed significant correlations with response time and variability on visual ATA. In addition, significantly lower digit span backward scores were observed in hyperactive-impulsive/combined subtypes compared to inattentive subtype (t=3.60, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Children with ADHD showed significantly lower scores in WMI and PSI which were clinically correlated with ATA scores, and hyperactive-impulsive/combined subtypes showed poorer working memory functions in WMI. Follow-up studies are proposed.