Abstract

The average cognitive profile in Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) and ADHD is characterized by strengths and weaknesses. The difference between the General Ability Index and the overall Intelligence Quotient, obtained with the WISC-IV, demonstrated good ability to discriminate between cases and controls. Based on an analysis involving 1609 children with SLD and 495 with ADHD, however, the present study shows that the use of such a discrepancy in clinical practice must be cautious, both because the cognitive profile does not differentiate between different neurodevelopment disorders, and because it is just a correlate, and is neither necessary nor sufficient for a diagnosis. The topic is developed here together with further analyses on gender, age, and subtypes of SLD. It is shown that the discrepancy is larger in males than in females.