Verbal intelligence and sleep disorders in children with ADHD

Abstract

In the present study, WISC-III Verbal IQ and sleep disorders in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and controls who were matched for age and sex were assessed. 18 children with ADHD, 14 boys and 4 girls, and 18 controls, 14 boys and 4 girls, participated, Polysomnographs were performed for all ADHD children during their night sleep. The Greek version of WISC-III was used to evaluate Verbal IQ. Analysis of the polysomnographs showed that the quality of night sleep of the children with ADHD was very poor, including apneas, low desaturation rates, and awakenings in combination with limb activity and snoring. This agreed with their low Verbal IQ, which was up to 20 points lower than the controls' Verbal IQ. Sleep disorders in ADHD children could contribute to lower Verbal IQ.