Neuropsychological profiles of pre-schoolers and their relations with ADHD related symptoms and pre-academic skills

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relations between three neuropsychological components proposed by the triple pathway model (executive dysfunction, delay aversion, and temporal processing deficits), ADHD related symptoms, and pre-academic skills in Hong Kong preschoolers. Method: One hundred and thirty preschool children aged 4 to 6 years old participated in the study. Direct task-based and indirect informant-based measures were collected. Results: Executive dysfunction and delay aversion both significantly predicted ADHD related symptoms independently, with working memory being the strongest unique predictor of inattentive symptoms and inhibition being the strongest predictor of hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. Temporal processing was not found to be significant in predicting ADHD related symptoms. Regarding pre-academic skills, temporal processing significantly predicted both word reading and mathematics skills, while EF was significant in predicting mathematics skills only. Delay aversion predicted neither of the pre-academic skills. Conclusion: The results provided support for a dual pathway model instead of a triple pathway model and indicated differential profiles of deficits that underlie different subtypes of ADHD related symptoms. Weak temporal processing skills could be considered as an early marker of weak reading and mathematics skills.