Psychometric properties of ADHD rating scales among children with mental retardation I: Reliability

Abstract

The reliability of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) rating scales in children with mental retardation was assessed. Parents, teachers, and teaching assistants completed ADHD rating scales on 48 children aged 5–12 diagnosed with mental retardation. Measures included the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Conners Rating Scales, the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Test (ADHDT), the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham (SNAP) Checklist, the Werry–Weiss–Peters Activity Rating Scale (WWPARS), the ADD-H Comprehensive Teacher’s Rating Scale (ACTeRS), and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist—Community (ABC-C). The internal consistency, test-retest, and interrater reliability of each scale was examined. Results showed best support for teacher completed scales, followed by ratings made by teaching assistants, and parent-report scales. Strong support for the internal consistency of the teacher-report measures was found, and it was quite similar to previously reported internal consistencies with typically developing children. Test-retest reliabilities of the teacher report measures were also quite good but tended to be lower than those reported for typically developing children. For teaching assistant ratings, test-retest reliabilities were adequate to very good. The internal consistency reliabilities for parent completed measures were adequate to excellent, but test-retest reliabilities were low. Interrater reliability was best for teacher-teaching assistants. The ABC-C was the only measure on which the interrater reliability was adequate for clinical purposes.