Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition involving differences in brain development and activity. These differences can affect attention, focus, self-control, and memory. Research also shows that speech and language problems are common among people with ADHD.
We do not know for certain whether ADHD causes communication difficulties. However, decreased attention skills are strongly correlated with having a communication disorder.
Many people with ADHD take medication to manage cognitive symptoms involving attention and focus. But can this medication improve communication as well? Here is what to know about treating communication problems related to ADHD.
Common symptoms of ADHD
Not everyone with ADHD has a communication disorder. However, many people with ADHD experience symptoms such as:
- Difficulty focusing on a specific task
- Forgetfulness or memory problems
- Difficulty controlling impulses, or acting without thinking
- Impatience or difficulty waiting for their turn
- A high level of energy or activity
- Interrupting or speaking at inappropriate times
- Difficulty following instructions
- Hyperactivity, including fidgeting or squirming
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How can ADHD affect language?
The cognitive effects of ADHD can affect language skills in both children and adults. People may have difficulty with:
- Understanding language
- Expressing their thoughts verbally
- Speaking clearly
- Reading
- Writing
Some research has also found a connection between stuttering and ADHD. To learn more about the communication disorders that may occur in people with ADHD, read this article.
Can ADHD medication help with speech and language problems?
ADHD is often treated with medications that increase specific neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters have important roles in attention, focus, and impulse control.
When people with ADHD find the right medication dosage and timing, they often notice cognitive improvements. Cognition refers to how people learn, process, and understand information. This raises another question: Can ADHD medication also improve language?
The answer is maybe. If language does improve, the change is likely connected to improved cognition.
How ADHD medication may improve communication skills
Research into the effects of ADHD medication on language disorders is somewhat limited. Still, some evidence suggests that medication can help with speech and language difficulties. For example, studies have found that children with ADHD who take stimulant medication show improvements in language comprehension and expression. These gains result from the medication improving their ability to focus and pay attention.
Consider what happens when someone has trouble paying attention: They may not accurately hear everything another person says. Better attention and focus can make it easier to concentrate, listen, and understand. As a child’s listening improves, they can pay closer attention to parts of speech such as grammar. For example, while listening to a story, the child may begin imitating the verb ending-ing . This can make their language clearer and more complex.
Similarly, an adult may be better able to hear a complex question without missing important details. Improved focus can also help a person perform better in reading and writing, since both require attention to information.
ADHD medication may also help with executive functioning, another cognitive skill. Executive functioning is the ability to divide complex tasks into smaller parts. It includes organizing, prioritizing, solving problems, and monitoring your performance as you work through a complex task.
Stronger executive functioning skills may make it easier to organize thoughts, explain information, and stay engaged in a conversation.
In language, the complex task might be telling a story or preparing an answer to a question. With stronger executive functioning skills, a person may find it easier to organize their thoughts, present information in the correct order, pay attention to their conversation partner, and adjust the message when needed. This will result in clearer, more coherent speech.
Finally, ADHD medication can reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity. As a result, children with ADHD may find it easier to participate appropriately in conversations and classroom activities. This can support better social communication with fewer interruptions. When a child can interact with others more easily, they also have more opportunities to learn language skills.
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What is the best way to treat language problems related to ADHD?
Responses to ADHD medication vary from person to person. Some people may notice major improvements in cognitive function and language skills, while others may experience little or no benefit. Medication is often most effective when paired with speech therapy. Together, these treatments can address both the cognitive and language problems associated with ADHD.
Medication is often most effective when combined with speech therapy.
Speech therapy for ADHD can benefit children and adults. A speech therapist cannot treat ADHD itself, but they can address language difficulties that arise from attention deficits.
Speech therapy for children with ADHD
Speech therapy for ADHD starts with an evaluation. When evaluating a child with ADHD, the speech therapist assesses which areas of language are challenging. These difficulties may involve expressive language , or how the child communicates their wants, needs, and thoughts; receptive language , or how the child understands language; or both. Every child has different needs.
The speech therapist may also conduct a formal assessment of social languageand observe how the child interacts with other people. For example, talking quickly, interrupting frequently, or struggling to stay on topic may indicate that ADHD is affecting a child’s social communication skills.
The speech therapist then creates a treatment plan with goals tailored to the child’s needs. Each speech therapy session for ADHD focuses on progress toward those goals, typically through play. Therapists use creative activities to make the work feel less obvious to children. When teaching a concept such as sentence structure, for example, the therapist might play a game that naturally encourages talking, such as “I Spy.” For an auditory comprehension task, the therapist might read an engaging book and then ask the child questions about the story.
Speech therapy for adults with ADHD
Speech therapists can also screen, assess, and treat adults with ADHD. Speech therapy for adults with ADHD often focuses on executive functioning. The speech therapist can treat the executive functioning difficulty directly while teaching strategies that help the person succeed at home, at work, and in the community.
These strategies may include dividing large projects into smaller steps, following written directions, making changes around the home, and using visual aids. Your speech therapist can help you identify which strategies work best and incorporate them into your daily life.
At Astrel, we provide speech, language, and cognitive treatment for children and adults with ADHD. We can evaluate your language skills or your child’s and develop a care plan tailored to your communication goals. With the right support and a clear plan, you or your child can thrive with ADHD.