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ADHD and academic attainment: is there an advantage in impulsivity?

Tymms, P.; Merrell, C.

ADHD and academic attainment: is there an advantage in impulsivity? Thumbnail


Authors

C. Merrell



Abstract

Pupils diagnosed with ADHD and pupils with ADHD symptoms tend to do less well at school than their symptom-free peers. This has been found to be particularly true for predominantly inattentive pupils. This paper aimed to establish the relative importance of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity to the academic progress of young children. A large dataset which held children's reading and maths attainment at the end of their first year at school, as well as teachers' ratings of ADHD-related behaviours based on the DSM-IV criteria was analysed. Inattention was strongly linked to under-attainment whilst impulsivity was positively related to attainment for similar levels of inattention. The item “Blurts out answers” on the teachers' rating scale was particularly important. When impulsivity acted as an overt sign of cognitive engagement it seemed to have a positive function. This raises questions about the inclusion of the “blurting out” item in the ADHD DSM criteria.

Citation

Tymms, P., & Merrell, C. (2011). ADHD and academic attainment: is there an advantage in impulsivity?. Learning and Individual Differences, 21(6), 753-758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2011.07.014

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Dec 1, 2011
Deposit Date Oct 5, 2011
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Learning and Individual Differences
Print ISSN 1041-6080
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 21
Issue 6
Pages 753-758
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2011.07.014

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Copyright Statement
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Learning and individual differences. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Learning and individual differences, 21 (6), 2011, 10.1016/j.lindif.2011.07.014





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