Cognitive Deficits in School Going Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Cognitive impairment has been found to be accompanying Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in several studies. Cognitive abilities are key to healthy and proper functioning for any human and that’s why cognitive deficits creates various types of problems in persons with cognitive impairment. The present study aimed at studying the cognitive deficits in school going children with ADHD.A cross sectional study was designed for studying the cognitive deficits in school going children with ADHD. Thirty school going children with ADHD were selected by using purposive sampling technique. DT-ADHD was used for screening purpose. All of the 30 children were assessed on Malin’s Intelligence Scale for Indian Children (MISIC), Colour cancellation test, Children Colour Trail Test and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Statistical analysis of the findings was done by using SPSS. 20. The result showed that the school going children with ADHD performed poorly on subtests of MISIC, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Colour cancellation test and Children Colour Trail Test suggesting deficit in attention, concentration, in the speed of attention, in sequencing, mental flexibility, working memory, problem in shifting and maintaining set, problem in forming abstract concepts. The present study showed that the school going children with ADHD had significant cognitive deficits.