ADD Learning Styles

ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, formerly known as ADD, is a type of learning disorder that first occurs in childhood and continues through adulthood. People with ADHD have difficulty staying focused and paying attention. They also can have hyperactivity and have a hard time controlling their behavior.



Learning styles refer to the way people take in, process and understand information. All people have different learning styles, including people with ADHD. If you are teaching someone with ADHD, understanding his personal learning style can be helpful.

Visual

• Visual learners respond well to visual cues. For instance, when trying to understand what another person is saying, a visual learner keys into body language and facial expressions. A person with ADHD who is a visual learner will do best by integrating images, pictures, color and charts when trying to learn. A child with ADHD who is a visual learner can use visual study aids to help with schoolwork. For instance, flash cards, drawings and diagrams can reinforce her learning. Word games such as Scrabble or crossword puzzles can also be helpful.

Auditory

• Auditory learners solve problems by talking things through and listening to others. Tone of voice, inflections, and speed of speech are all cues that auditory learners pick up on. A person with ADHD who is an auditory learner can benefit from recorded classroom lectures and discussions of ideas he is trying to learn with others. A child with ADHD who is an auditory learner may benefit from using songs as learning aids, studying with other children, or listening to books on tape.

Verbal/Linguistic

• Verbal or linguistic learners integrate both written and spoken text in their learning style. These types of learners enjoy reading and expressing themselves in writing. They also enjoy playing word games. A person with ADHD who is a linguistic learner can benefit from using tape recorders and making written notes during lectures. A child with ADHD who is a linguistic learner can learn with the help of lists and mnemonics. For a smaller child, songs and rhymes can help with learning.

Tactile

• Tactile or kinesthetic learners have a very physical learning style. These types of learners need to learn-as-they-do, frequently using trial and error. Although most people with ADHD have problems with concentration, a person with ADHD and a tactile learning style may have a particularly difficult time sitting through a lecture or concentrating for long periods of time. For a child with ADHD and a tactile learning style, the use of hands-on learning is key. Tools that allow him to be as interactive with material as possible will help him learn. For instance, role-playing concepts and practicing skills with others can be useful. Blocks and jellybeans could be used for solving math problems. Creating a collage or diorama can help tactile learners understand history or literature.