Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderAccording to the DSM-IV, ADHD is a disruptive behavior disorder characterized by the presence of a set of chronic and impairing behavior patterns that display abnormal levels of inattention, hyperactivity, or their combinationThe exact cause of ADHD is unknown but several factors play a role:•Altered brain function and anatomy•Heredity/Genetics•Maternal smoking, drug use, and exposure to toxins•Childhood exposure to environmental toxins

StatisticsAccording to the Center for Disease Control (CDC 2005) an

estimated 4.4 million children between the ages of 4 and 17 have been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) play an important role in gaining speech/language skills

As many as 50% to 70% of young children with hyperactive and impulsive behavior ADHD were experiencing problems in understanding and expressing ideas through language

ADHD Impact on CommunicationChildren who have ADHD may experience:Syntactic errors Deficits in working memoryDifficulties in literacy Pragmatic language skills Excessive and inappropriate talking during social interactionsDifficulties maintaining a topic and poor turn-taking skillsDifficulties demonstrating their ability to understand or

produce spoken language Difficulties understanding the relationship between sounds,

letters, and wordsReading comprehension problems

How Does ADHD affect Reading/Writing AbilitiesReading Difficulty:letter and word

recognition understanding

words and ideas reading speed and

fluency general vocabulary

skills

Writing Difficulty:They include

problems with: neatness and

consistency of writing

accurately copying letters and words

spelling consistency writing organization

and coherence

Reading -poor reading ability or poor comprehension.Writing- difficulty with writing mechanics, organizing ideas/organizing

thoughts on paperLanguage- misinterpreting language or poor communication of what was

saidAuditory-responds to sounds of spoken language with

consistent misinterpretation.Cognitive-acquires new skills slowly, difficulty following directions, especially multiple directions visual spatial

confusion Memory- difficulty with memorization, learning only one way

Organization-difficulty following schedulesAttention-Short attention span, impulsive, difficulty conforming

•Have students listen to taped or recorded stories while following in the text•Use cooperative learning groups to enhance students' strengths.•Use comic books, simplified synopses, films, and filmstrips with classics to encourage attention to the task.•Review lessons frequently to build the sequence for students•Provide an outline of important points from the material•Use "previewing" strategies•Make lessons brief or break longer presentations into discrete segments.•Allow the students to use alternative ways to complete assignments•Teach students to use a reading marker or strip to help keep their place• Guided reading

ResourcesADHD and Language Difficultieshttp://www.addtreatmentcenters.com/low/framefiles/articles/ADHD%20and%20Language%20Impairments.html

Learning Disabilities in Children: Learning Disability Symptoms, Types, and Testing. http://www.helpguide.org/mental/learning_disabilities.htm

Speed of Language Comprehension Is Impaired in ADHD Wassenberg, r. ;Hendriksen ,J; Hurks P. (2008). Speed of language comprehension is impaired in ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders OnlineFirst, Retrieved from http://jad.sagepub.com

http://www.ldonline.org/article/The_Relationship_Between_Language_and_Learning_Disabilities

 http://helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_teaching_strategies.htm

http://www.bing.com/health/article/mayo-125656/Attentiondeficithyperactivity-disorder-ADHD-in-children?q=adhd&qpvt=adhd+

http://www.addinschool.com/elementary/lessons.htm