Combining neuropsychological tests to improve the assessment of arithmetic difficulties in children with ADHD

Abstract: Objective: To compare the ways of evaluating arithmetic skills in Brazilian children with ADHD by combining three validated neuropsychological tests and determining whether they are sensitive to the methylphenidate treatment. Methods: Forty-two children (9–12 years old) participated in the present study: 20 were children with ADHD (DSM-IV) and 22 were age-matched controls. A classification criterion was used for each test separately and one, for their combination to detect the presence of arithmetic difficulties at two time points: baseline (time 1); and when children with ADHD were taking 0.3–0.5 mg/kg of methylphenidate (time 2). The study also assessed children’s subtraction performance, combining parts of these tests. Results: Separately, the tests were only sensitive to differences between groups without medication. However, by combining the three neuropsychological tests, we observed a difference and detected a reduction in arithmetic difficulties associated with the methylphenidate treatment. The same effects were found in subtraction exercises, which require a borrowing procedure. Conclusions: The present study detected arithmetic difficulties in Brazilian children with ADHD and the effects of methylphenidate. Given this improvement in sensitivity, combining tests could be a promising alternative when working with limited samples.

Object Details

• Alternative title: Combinando testes neuropsicológicos para melhorar a avaliação de dificuldades aritméticas em crianças com TDAH
• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Combining neuropsychological tests to improve the assessment of arithmetic difficulties in children with ADHD ; volume:78 ; number:04 ; year:2020 ; pages:193-198 ; Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria ; 78, Heft 04 (2020), 193-198

Contributors, Places and Time

• Contributor: REZENDE, Angelo R. T. ; PACHECO, Sandra P. ; BRANCO, Sulamy C. C. ; FERNANDES, Rosangela D. C. ; BOLDRINI, Carla R. ; DORIA, Ulysses ; BAZÁN, Paulo R. ; Amaro Junior, Edson ; REED, Umbertina Conti ; CASELLA, Erasmo Barbante

Further information

• DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20190178
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023072710480091385128
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:46 AM CEST