Cognitive Styles of School-Age Children Showing Attention Deficit Disorders with Hyperactivity

Abstract

Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) children (23 boys and 5 girls) and 28 normal children (23 boys and 5 girls) were matched by age. The ADDH group had a mean score of 2.06 on the hyperactivity scale of the Parent Symptom Questionnaire; a mean score of 1.5 is accepted as the lower limit for establishing hyperactivity. Both groups were individually administered The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised, Children's Embedded Figures Test, and Matching Familiar Figures Test. No significant difference appeared on the Matching Familiar Figures Test, a measure of cognitive styles of reflection-impulsivity with intelligence statistically controlled; however, a significant main effect was found on the Children's Embedded Figures Test which suggests that ADDH children are field-dependent. Some therapeutic implications were discussed.