ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects about 5% of the population. Children with ADHD often struggle with maintaining attention, controlling impulses, and managing motor control. This can lead to behaviors that appear hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive.

It might seem surprising, but speech pathologists play a crucial role in supporting children with ADHD. Studies show that up to 82% of children with ADHD experience communication challenges. Speech pathologists are experts in communication and can address a wide array of difficulties, not just those related to speech and stuttering.

Speech pathologists are often associated with treating speech disorders, but their scope is much broader. They handle issues such as speech sound disorders, stuttering, language disorders, social communication difficulties, literacy problems, swallowing issues, and voice disorders. Children with ADHD are at a higher risk for many of these communication challenges, which can impact their educational, social, and vocational success. Speech pathologists can identify these issues and offer essential support to both children and their families.

Common Communication Challenges in Children with ADHD

Research indicates that children with ADHD are more prone to various communication disorders compared to children without ADHD. Here are some of the common communication challenges these children may face:

Social Communication Difficulties

Social communication skills involve using language in social contexts, including non-verbal communication like eye contact and respecting personal space, as well as following conversational norms like turn-taking and staying on topic. Children with ADHD often have poorer pragmatic skills, struggling with turn-taking, maintaining eye contact, initiating or expanding on topics, repairing conversational breakdowns, and storytelling. Studies show that between 52-82% of children with ADHD exhibit these difficulties.

Language Difficulties

Language difficulties can impact both oral and written communication, affecting understanding (e.g., following directions) and expression (e.g., vocabulary, sentence construction, storytelling). Children with ADHD are at least three times more likely to have language difficulties compared to their peers.

Dysfluency / Stuttering

Children with ADHD are more likely to experience dysfluency in their speech. They often repeat words, phrases, and sentences more frequently and have more pauses in their speech than children without ADHD.

Specific Learning Disorders

Specific Learning Disorders involve persistent difficulties in reading, writing, and/or math. Children with ADHD are at a significantly higher risk of having a specific learning disorder. Research from 2015 indicates that 23% of boys and 28% of girls with ADHD score below expected benchmarks in numeracy, reading, spelling, and writing by year three, compared to 11% of children without ADHD.

Voice Disorders

Children with ADHD are more prone to developing vocal nodules, which are callous-like growths on the vocal folds caused by repetitive vocal abuse or misuse. This can result from behaviors like yelling, excessive talking, crying, cheering, and making sound effects. These behaviors can lead to a hoarse voice or even voice loss. Voice disorders are particularly common in children with the combined and hyperactive/impulsive presentations of ADHD.

The Impact of Communication Disorders and ADHD

Children with ADHD and co-occurring communication difficulties face heightened risks in various areas. They may experience poor academic progress, bullying, and behavioral issues. Boys with ADHD often have fewer friendships and face more social difficulties than their peers. These social and academic challenges can extend into adolescence and adulthood, increasing the risk of mental health issues and making it harder to achieve stable employment.

As a parent, it can be daunting to see your child struggle in these areas. However, early intervention with appropriate speech-language pathology services can equip children with the skills and support they need to navigate social challenges, build meaningful relationships, and succeed academically.

How Can a Speech Pathologist Help?

At Growing Understanding Speech Pathology, we offer comprehensive support for children with ADHD, including:

• Assessment and Diagnosis: Working with families to investigate, diagnose, and manage communication difficulties.
• Individualized Plans: Developing evidence-based plans to support communication goals.
• Therapy Services: Providing therapy to enhance communication skills and adapting the environment to help children utilize these skills.
• Training and Support: Training parents, careers, and teachers in strategies to support children with ADHD at home and in school.

If you believe your child could benefit from an assessment or therapy to support their communication skills, reach out to our team today. We are here to help your child thrive in all aspects of communication.