Executive functions and sentence comprehension in children with ADHD, DLD, and comorbid ADHD and DLD

Abstract

Present cohort study assessed sentence comprehension and three domains of executive functions (EF) - inhibition, attention shifting, and working memory in groups of children with DLD, ADHD, and comorbid DLD + ADHD. EF were assessed using the parental Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function and comprehension skills by Sentence Comprehension Test (TEPO). A clinical sample of 114 children, aged 6-8 years, participated in the study. TEPO t-score values were significantly different between almost all groups. Additionally, parents of children with ADHD and comorbid ADHD and DLD reported higher scores of their children’s difficulties in the three EF assessed, while parents of children with DLD reported lower scores of EF difficulties. The current study offers a unique perspective on executive functioning and sentence comprehension in children with comorbid DLD and ADHD.