Critical issues in the assessment of attention deficit disorders in children

A great deal of research has been directed toward understanding the general principles that govern attention. More specifically, research has sought to define the multidimensional nature of attention, the neuroanatomical system responsible for attention, and the ways in which attention can be operationally defined and measured. In addition to these investigations on attention in general, there is a large body of literature examining attention in children and in particular children who have deficits in this area. The purpose of this article is to summarize the extant literature on attention deficit disorders both with and without hyperactivity, the current diagnostic criteria, its prevalence, developmental course, and proposed etiologies. With that as a background, a conceptual framework for designing a comprehensive assessment battery is presented with specific attention to the relationship between attentional deficits and language disorders in both etiology and assessment.