Teaching ADHD Kids to Read

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have a more difficult time learning to read due symptoms associated with their illness. Distractions often prevent them from focusing, and an overstimulating environment can make this even worse. Making certain that the child is paying attention is required, although it may be necessary to stray from the reading material in order to do so. Keeping things simple and straightforward limits the possibility of antagonizing the ADHD and helps to ensure that the teacher is getting through to the student.

Limit Pictures

• Books for young children learning to read are usually loaded with bright, colorful pictures depicting favorite characters or scenes. To a child without ADHD, these images help focus and concentration on the book. To a child with ADHD, the pictures become the only focal point. The distractibility of child with ADHD is greater then a typical child of learning-to-read age and books full of fun images only make this worse.

  Purchasing books with little or no pictures ensures that the focus is on the words. Special books made for children with ADHD recognize this issue and do not contain any images at all. If these plain books cannot be located, homemade flash cards made using marker and index cards or a computer and printer will work just fine.

Maintain Attentiveness

• To keep the child with ADHD focused on the reading activity, it may be necessary to engage in dialogue that holds his or her attention. Saying the child's name frequently and making sure there is eye contact helps to keep attention as well.

  If the child does not seem to be paying attention, ask a question about something unrelated to the reading task. Use a topic that the child enjoys and slowly make the transition back to the reading once attention is established.

  Verbal praise and other forms of positive reinforcement also assist with holding attention. If the child enjoys hugs and tickles, use this to provide a loving and rewarding environment during the activity. A favorite toy out of sight but brought up as a reminder makes the ideal reward after the child sits and pays attention for a set period.

Background Noise

• Maintaining a low level of white noise in the background helps kids with ADHD focus on the task before them. The low noise decreases distractibility and engages the child's brain in concentration. A soft fan, compact disc, or machine especially designed to create white noise, produces the ideal type of sound for reading.

  Each child with ADHD may respond differently to the various types of white noise sounds. Experimenting with each one will discover the particular sound that works for the child. In addition to the classic white noise, the sounds of fans, babbling brooks, rain, clothes dryers or other machines, and many alternate sounds have the potential to help. Make sure there are options available throughout the environment where the child may read, such as a CD in the living room or classroom and a machine in the bedroom. Experiment with the volume level to discover the correct amount of sound.