The relationship between auditory memory and ADHD among children with and without ADHD diagnosis

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of ADHD diagnosis on auditory memory, by comparing the auditory memory of children with ADHD diagnosis and children without ADHD diagnosis, who are 6 to 12 years old. Methods: The study sample consists of a total of 206 children between 6 to 16 years of age, 102 of which were students who had received ADHD diagnosis and 104 had not received ADHD diagnosis. The data consists of 4 different scores obtained via administration of VASD-B to the students. DSM-IV based Screening and Rating Scale and Family Interview Forms were also administered in the study. Results: The study results indicated a significant relationship between ADHD diagnosis and auditory memory. The children with ADHD diagnosis were observed to score significantly lower than children without ADHD diagnosis on the VASD-B test. It was detected that VASD-B scores increased proportionately with age and that this effect was statistically significant. Similarly, both girls and boys with ADHD diagnosis scored lower on VASD-B test. However, children's delivery method or their parents' levels of education were not found to have a statistically significant effect on their memory or auditory memory. Discussion: The results of this study are coherent with other studies in medical literature with respect to the relationship between ADHD and auditory memory. On the other hand this study is important as the first study in Turkey that investigated the relationship of auditory memory in ADHD with delivery methods and the parents' levels of education.