Learning Difficulties in ADHD children

 

The label of ADHD is often associated with negative connotations such as being a failure, lazy, or unmotivated. Children with ADHD often face the challenges of being associated with these negatives.

 

In school age children, learning is their main task and this requires a great deal of attention. The main characteristic of ADHD is inattention thus interfering with daily functioning in school. Unable to maintain sustained attention, learning becomes a great challenge and the school performance of children with ADHD is often aversely affected. The affected child (or adult) cannot keep up with the rest of their classmates.

 

If inattention is coupled with hyperactivity, the ADHD child in particular can be very disruptive to the classroom setting as a whole. One such child in a class easily disrupts the whole class.

 

It can be very confusing for both parents and teachers in observing their behaviors. On the one hand, the experience of parents and teachers is that the child cannot pay attention for even just a few minutes. This obviously interferes with almost any kind of classroom learning and finishing of homework assignments. On the other hand, the same child may be able to focus on reading a comic book, playing video games or on an action movie for hours without difficulty. Some even excel in certain sports activities.

 

Not all ADHD children get a proper diagnosis in their school years and receive an appropriate intervention and treatment to help them reduce their symptoms and cope with their attention problems. Often such children are labeled as “lazy”, “stupid”, or “defiant”, and their impulsivity can be very annoying to their fellow classmates and teachers. They may even be punished for their misbehaviors. Their school performance is often unsatisfactory and this can further affect the child’s self-esteem and confidence. Teachers, parents, and the child all become frustrated. Untreated ADHD can have life-long consequences.

 

Early identification of ADHD is the key for these children to receive timely intervention so they can overcome their challenges and experience success.

 

Many of the ADHD clients that we work with in our clinic can overcome their inattention and hyperactivity. Absent such obstacles to learning, the real potential and intelligence of the child can be developed and expressed. The reality is that children with ADHD are quite amazing. Such kids can be very creative, intelligent, sociable, full of energy, adventurous, and quick in reaction.