Differential performances on the WRAML in children and adolescents diagnosed with epilepsy,head injury,and substance abuse

Assessment of memory in children and adolescents has been limited because of the lack of standardized instruments available. The recently released Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning (WRAML; Sheslow & Adams, 1990) was used in this exploratory study to examine memory skills in children and adolescents with conditions affecting neuropsychological functioning. Diagnostic categories included epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse, as well as a nonneurological comparison group with psychiatric disturbance. Results indicated that children with epilepsy scored significantly below those with substance abuse or psychiatric disorders on the Verbal Memory Index. Within‐group comparisons suggested that all clinical groups had more difficulty with tasks that purportedly measure auditory attentional skills. Children with epilepsy demonstrated greater variability in memory performances, suggesting possible problems with both attention and memory factors. The WRAML appears to be a potentially useful assessment tool in the measurement of memory processes in children, although further research is needed concerning subtest specificity.