Cognitive Profiles are Better Predictors of Literacy Attainment Than Diagnostic Outcomes in Children with High ADHD Symptoms.

We examined whether cognitive profiles or diagnostic outcomes are better predictors of literacy performance for children being considered for an ADHD diagnosis. Fifty-five drug naïve children (M = 103.13 months, SD = 18.65; 29.09% girls) were recruited from an ADHD clinical referral waiting list. Children underwent assessment of IQ, Executive Functions (EF) and literacy attainment. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to generate subgroups of children using EF scores. Data were then grouped based on presence of a clinical ADHD diagnosis and the results compared. Grouping participants by profiles of cognitive test scores led to groups which also differed on literacy scores. However, categorising by whether children had received an ADHD diagnosis or not did not differentiate either cognitive tests scores or literacy scores. Cognitive performance, rather than children's diagnostic outcomes, is more informative for identifying groups who differ in their literacy attainment which has important implications for remedial support.