Inhibitory Control and Cognitive Flexibility in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Executive functions are a set of cognitive operations that enable direct behaviors to goals. Deficits in executive functioning have been associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The purpose of this study was to describe the performance of children diagnosed with ADHD in tasks of inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. Thirty children were divided into 2 groups: clinical and control. The Five Digits Test and the Wisconsin Classification Card Test were used as psychological instruments. A questionnaire with a description of daily behaviors was answered by the caregivers of the children. The results indicated that the group of patients with ADHD presented worse performance than the control group in Five Digits Test tasks. No significant differences were observed between the groups in the Wisconsin Classification Card Test. In the caregivers’ view, children with ADHD have difficulties controlling motor behavior and inhibiting inappropriate behaviors in social relationships, and ordinary children may have behaviors of not being organized with their personal objects. The effect size was considered small for the study findings. Children with ADHD may require more time than ordinary children to perform the same task. Investigations of larger samples are required to confirm this data.