Factor Invariance Assessment of the Dean–Woodcock Sensory–Motor Battery for Patients With ADHD Versus Nonclinical Subjects

The current study examined the measurement invariance of the Dean–Woodcock Sensory–Motor Battery (DWSMB) for children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and an age- and gender-matched nonclinical sample. The DWSMB is a promising new instrument for assessing a wide range of cortical and subcortical sensory and motor skills and has been shown to conform to a three-factor latent structure for the nonclinical population. Because this instrument is used with a broad spectrum of individuals, including those with ADHD, it is important to verify that it does indeed measure the same constructs in the same way. The results of the invariance analyses showed that there were specific indicators on the DWSMB that were not invariant between the two groups, though the majority of the measurement model was found to be invariant. Specifically, several tasks that required sustained attention were not as effective for individuals with ADHD as they were for nonclinical subjects. In addition, certain measures of motor coordination were not as strongly associated with the latent variables for those with ADHD as compared with the nonclinical individuals. A number of clinical implications from these findings are discussed in detail.