Using the WISC-R to identify Attentional Deficit Disorder

The purpose of the present research was to test the utility of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) subscales in differentiating between children with Attentional Dificit Disorder (ADD) and children with other problems. Twenty-four children with ADD and a control group of 19 children with behavioral/emotional disorders were identified on the basis of historical background and intake interview. The results indicated that scores on three WISC-R subscales—Arithmetic, Digit Span, and Coding—were significantly lower among the ADD group. The practical implications of the findings are discussed.