A pilot study of working memory and academic achievement in college students with ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate working memory (WM), academic achievement, and their relationship in university students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


METHODS
Participants were university students with previously confirmed diagnoses of ADHD (n = 16) and normal control (NC) students (n = 30). Participants completed 3 auditory-verbal WM measures, 2 visual-spatial WM measures, and 1 control executive function task. Also, they self-reported grade point averages (GPAs) based on university courses.


RESULTS
The ADHD group displayed significant weaknesses on auditory-verbal WM tasks and 1 visual-spatial task. They also showed a nonsignificant trend for lower GPAs. Within the entire sample, there was a significant relationship between GPA and auditory-verbal WM.


CONCLUSIONS
WM impairments are evident in a subgroup of the ADHD population attending university. WM abilities are linked with, and thus may compromise, academic attainment. Parents and physicians are advised to counsel university-bound students with ADHD to contact the university accessibility services to provide them with academic guidance.
Gropper
Rachel J
RJ
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Tannock
Rosemary
R
D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014495:Universities; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology