Cognitive Profile for Children with ADHD by Using WISC-IV: Subtype Differences?

This study explores whether a specific cognitive profile for children with ADHD can be obtained through the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and whether this profile is capable of differentiating between ADHD clinical subtypes. A control group of 47 children was selected, together with a clinical group of 86 children diagnosed with ADHD and divided into 2 subgroups, according to their clinical characteristics. The clinical group was characterized by a GAI > CPI with respect to the control group. The clinical subgroups did not score significantly lower in any index, but they did in the difference between the working memory index and the processing speed index. For those diagnosed with inattentive ADHD, this distance was positive; for those diagnosed with ADHD combined group, it was negative. These findings contribute empirical evidence to the hypothesis that there is a characteristic ADHD cognitive profile, with a potential ability of differentiating between ADHD clinical subtypes.