Neuropsychological findings in adult attention deficit disorder: a pilot study.

Abstract

Relatively little is known about neuropsychological deficits in adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). This paper presents data for a consecutive series of 11 adults diagnosed as having adult ADD. The sample had a mean age of 33 4 years (range=22-56) and mean education of 15 years (range=8-19) and included 5 women and 6 men All were Caucasians. A neuropsychological test battery was administered. The results suggested few neuropsychological deficits except in the initial acquisition of verbal information on the Logical Memory Subtest, the Wechsler Memory Scale, and the Category Test. When a subsample was examined using age-, education-and gender-corrected norms, there appeared to be a tendency to obtain borderline scores on part B of the Trail Making Test and Category Test, but normal scores on the Rhythm Test, Speech Sounds Perception Test and Finger Tapping Test. These findings argue for the neuropsychological evaluation of adults suspected of having ADD.