Neurocognitive and Behavioral Predictors of Math Performance in Children With and Without ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined neurocognitive and behavioral predictors of math performance in children with and without ADHD.


METHODS
Neurocognitive and behavioral variables were examined as predictors of (a) standardized mathematics achievement scores, (b) productivity on an analog math task, and (c) accuracy on an analog math task.


RESULTS
Children with ADHD had lower achievement scores but did not significantly differ from controls on math productivity or accuracy. N-back accuracy and parent-rated attention predicted math achievement. N-back accuracy and observed attention predicted math productivity. Alerting scores on the attentional network task predicted math accuracy. Mediation analyses indicated that n-back accuracy significantly mediated the relationship between diagnostic group and math achievement.


CONCLUSIONS
Neurocognition, rather than behavior, may account for the deficits in math achievement exhibited by many children with ADHD.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH, USA.
Tanya N
TN
Antonini
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH, USA.
Kathleen M
KM
Kingery
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH, USA.
Megan E
ME
Narad
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
Joshua M
JM
Langberg
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH, USA.
Leanne
L
Tamm
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH, USA jeff.epstein@cchmc.org.
Jeffery N
JN
Epstein
D000124:Achievement; D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D032882:Comprehension; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018794:Problem-Based Learning
ADHD; behavioral attention; curriculum-based measurement; math achievement; neurocognition; working memory