Metalinguistic and Reading Skills in a Sample of Colombian Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine metalinguistic skills and reading processes in children diagnosed with ADHD, compared to a matched control group. Method: An explanatory experimental design was employed, involving a sample of 194 children from Manizales, comprising 97 children diagnosed with ADHD and 97 controls. The study utilized tasks from the Children’s Neuropsychological Assessment (CNA) protocol to assess metalinguistic and reading abilities. Results: Children with ADHD exhibited significantly lower performance across all metalinguistic and reading tasks compared to the control group, except for spelling and silent reading comprehension tasks. Conclusions: These findings corroborate previous research conducted in Manizales, underscoring the specific challenges in metalinguistic and reading domains among children with ADHD. Future research should explore the influence of working memory on phonological awareness and its implications for metalinguistic skills and reading development.