Speech Therapy for ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that often becomes evident in childhood and persists through adulthood. Although treatment for ADHD will not offer a cure, speech therapy can help relieve some of the symptoms and make a child more capable of coping in social situations and in school.

Statistics

• According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 2 to 3 percent of children have ADHD, and approximately 2 million children in the United States have ADHD. Approximately 25 percent of children with ADHD have a learning disability, and 50 percent have poor listening skills.

Symptoms

• Some of the problems a child might exhibit include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, which often involve personal struggles with self-esteem, difficult relationships and poor performance levels in school. A child with ADHD might appear to be not listening or have difficulty performing specific tasks or completing them on time and struggle when learning new things. Poor regulation of one's behavior might lead to specific reactions.

Assessment

• Although diagnosing ADHD might prove difficult, a thorough assessment normally involves gathering information about a child from their teachers and parents in order to consider the child's behavior. A diagnosis will involve a full physical examination, screening for medical conditions such as lead poisoning and thyroid problems as well as other causes such as sleep problems or anxiety. Psychological tests and assessments with an occupational or speech pathologist can help assess ADHD, by meeting with a child to determine how they behave in natural settings, how they speak, hear and assess other areas that might need support.

Speech Therapy

• Some children suffer from issues with speech or language, such as fluency, articulation in speech, an understanding of grammar or syntax, vocabulary use and the awareness of sounds or phonics. Speech therapy programs often remain tailored to the needs of the individual. Language deficits often focus on self-regulation so that a child can use specific strategies to learn information and thereby understand the curriculum and concepts more clearly.

Benefits of Speech Therapy

• ADHD often requires speech pathology to help children by helping them learn effective methods of communication, understanding how to speak in specific social situations and improved study skills. A speech therapist also can help to understand their sensory thresholds, negative moods, withdrawal and offer parents insight into triggers that might cause specific behavior.

Alternative

• In addition to occupational and speech therapy, many doctors will recommend medication to help manage ADHD to reduce symptoms. But they are not without side effects such as weight changes, difficulty sleeping, irritability and changes in appetite, which may exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Other treatments might include a special classroom environment as well as support through the community or family.