How Does ADHD Affect Reading and Learning Skills in Children?

What you need to know

• Working memory has a strong connection to reading and writing abilities in children with ADHD
• Processing speed shows varying relationships with different reading skills
• Different cognitive skills relate differently to specific aspects of reading and writing

Understanding the Connection Between ADHD and Learning

If you’re a parent or teacher of a child with ADHD, you’ve likely noticed that they may struggle with reading or writing tasks. While we know that ADHD can affect academic performance, understanding exactly how different thinking skills impact learning can help us better support these children.

Think of cognitive skills as tools in a toolbox - some tools are great for certain tasks but not as useful for others. This research helps us understand which cognitive “tools” are most important for different aspects of reading and writing in children with ADHD.

The Role of Working Memory

Working memory, which is like a mental sticky note that helps us hold and work with information, shows one of the strongest connections to reading and writing skills. Imagine trying to read a sentence while remembering what happened earlier in the story - this requires working memory. The research shows that children with ADHD who have stronger working memory tend to:

• Read words more accurately
• Better understand what they read
• Write more effectively
• Spell more accurately

This means that supporting working memory skills could be particularly helpful for improving literacy in children with ADHD.

Processing Speed and Reading

Processing speed - how quickly a child can take in and respond to information - shows an interesting pattern. While it has some connection to reading abilities, the relationship isn’t as strong or consistent as working memory. Some key findings include:

• A modest connection to word reading ability
• Some link to reading comprehension
• Stronger relationship to writing tasks
• Different patterns for boys and girls

Think of processing speed like the pace at which someone can assemble a puzzle - it affects how quickly they can complete the task, but isn’t the only factor in success.

Other Cognitive Skills and Their Impact

The research also looked at other thinking skills:

• Inhibition (the ability to control responses) appears particularly important for spelling
• Attention shows some connection to reading skills, though more research is needed
• Different cognitive skills affect different aspects of literacy in unique ways

What This Means for You

These findings have important practical implications:

• Focus on strategies that support working memory during reading and writing tasks
• Allow extra time for processing when needed, especially during writing activities
• Break down complex reading and writing tasks into smaller, manageable pieces
• Use tools and accommodations that reduce cognitive load (like graphic organizers)
• Consider targeting specific cognitive skills based on the type of literacy difficulty

Conclusions

• Working memory plays a crucial role in reading and writing success for children with ADHD
• Different cognitive abilities affect literacy skills in varying ways
• Supporting specific cognitive skills may help improve particular aspects of reading and writing
• A personalized approach targeting relevant cognitive skills may be most beneficial