Reply to ADHD with superior working memory and average processing speed?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Neither of those measures has to be below average to support an ADHD diagnosis, the key is that there is a significant disparity between the measures. An average processing speed can be very limiting to someone who scores in the superior range for other measures of intelligence, and will inhibit their ability to reach their full intellectual potential.  The frustration from that limiting processing speed can lead to lots of ADHD behaviors like impulsivity, struggles with time management and disorganization.

Variability in test results can also suggests ADHD if it reflects an inability to sustain attention once the test is no longer engaging or rushing through sections because the processing speed limitation (again, as compared to other components of intelligence) is frustrating him.[/quote]

Thank you. I didn't know what you say above. I know in my own two with ADHD who score in superior range in other measures of intelligence, their average working memory is addressed as a source of frustration but I assumed that their single digit percentile processing speed was a more key part to the diagnosis. Another interesting part of my nephew's testing is that he actually made zero mistakes in the processing speed section of the WISC. It seems that he slowed down to ensure he got everything correct--which if the end result is average, seems like a decent compensating strategy.

Regarding variability: I'd really like to read more about what is an expected amount of variability. I have read studies about what is expected among sub-sections of the WISC, for example, vs what is clinically significant, but not WITHIN a subsection. Do you have any suggestions?? Thank you![/quote]

That’s only a decent compensating when you have the luxury of unlimited time to complete a task.  In reality, people rarely have that, either because the task itself is time limited or because other responsibilities mean you can only give so much time to a given task.[/quote]

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