Development and validation of an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) executive function and behavior rating screening battery

Abstract

Attention problems are ubiquitous in clinical practice, commonly found in many childhood learning and behavior disorders. Practitioners need cost- and time-effective methods for determining whether children have attention problems due to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or numerous other conditions. This study examined the utility of a 15-minute ADHD screening battery designed to differentiate ADHD (including inattentive, IT, and combined, CT, subtypes), specific learning disability (SLD), and typical child samples. Results for the 368 children (age 6 to 12 years) revealed that the Trail Making Test–Part B (Time/Errors), Hale–Denckla Cancellation Test (Time/Correct), and Child Attention Profile (Inattention/Overactivity) teacher ratings discriminated between typical and ADHD groups (87% correct classification; sensitivity = .64; specificity = .92) and differentiated between IT, CT, and SLD groups (80% correct classification; IT sensitivity = .82, and specificity = .96; CT sensitivity = .84, and specificity = .82). Discriminant function and Bonferroni post hoc results revealed different neuropsychological and behavioral patterns among groups.

Keywords:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Screening battery
• Discriminant validity
• Executive functions
• Frontal-subcortical circuits

Notes

¹Based on Cohen's (1988) classification, ds of 0.20 to 0.49 are considered small, ds of 0.50 to 0.79 are moderate, and ds of above 0.80 are considered large.