Neuropsychological Performance of Adults Evidencing Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is no longer believed to be a time-limited syndrome manifested in and restricted to childhood and adolescence. Many of the characteristics associated with the disorder continue in variable form into adulthood. This investigation focused on two measures sensitive to attention, cognitive flexibility, and visual and auditory distraction, to determine if individuals diagnosed with ADHD would perform poorly in comparison with normal control subjects. Forty-two subjects, 27 ADHD adults and 15 control subjects, were administered the Goldman-Fristoe-Woodcock Test of Auditory Discrimination (TOAD), and the Stroop Color and Word Test. The findings indicated that the TOAD Noise subtest significantly discriminated the subjects, resulting in an overall correct classification rate of 80.95%.