ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) AND LEARNING-DISABILITIES

The overlap between Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) an d learning disabilities is consistently reported in the literature. Th e relationship between attention and cognitive and behavioral function ing makes it difficult to disentangle behavioral from cognitive sympto ms in children with learning disabilities. Historically, research on A DHD in children with learning disabilities has been wrought with metho dological inconsistencies and is further confounded by the comorbidity of learning disabilities and ADHD. This article reviews the research specific to the relationship between learning disabilities and attenti on deficit disorders, both historical and current. Implications for fu ture research relative to the increased specificity of the association between these disorders is discussed, with a focus on the need to dec rease the heterogeneity of the populations studied by using subtypes o f both learning disabilities and ADHD.