Neuropsychological characteristics of selective attention in children with nonverbal learning disabilities

Children with nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) usually manifest defective attention function. This study sought to investigate the neuropsychological characteristics of selective attention, such as attention control, working memory, and attention persistence of the frontal lobe in children with NLD.

Using the auditory detection test (ADT), Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), and C-WISC, 27 children with NLD and 33 normal children in the control group were tested, and the results of C-WISC subtests were analyzed with factor analysis.

Compared with the control group, the correct response rate in the auditory detection test in the NLD group was much lower (P < 0.01), and the number of incorrect responses was much higher (P < 0.01); NLD children also scored lower in WCST categories achieved (CA) and perseverative errors (PE) (P < 0.05). Factor analysis showed that perceptual organization (PO) related to visual space and freedom from distractibility (FD) relating to attention persistence in the NLD group were obviously lower than in the control group (P < 0.01).

Children with NLD have attention control disorder and working memory disorder mainly in the frontal lobe. We believe that the disorder is particularly prominent in the right frontal lobe.