Dyslexia and ADHD
What is it? What causes it? What is the impact on your life? Can it be treated?
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, self-control, and executive functioning. It typically begins in childhood and can continue into adulthood.
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Approximately 20-40% of individuals with dyslexia also have ADHD.
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Symptoms: Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which vary in presentation.
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Types: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined type.
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Causes: A combination of genetic, neurological, and environmental factors.
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Diagnosis: Based on behavioral assessments, history, and observation over time.
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Treatment: Often includes behavioral therapy, medication (stimulants), lifestyle strategies (diet, exercise, and mindfulness) and educational support.
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Impact: Can affect academic performance, social relationships, and daily functioning, but many individuals manage symptoms successfully with proper support.
With proper diagnosis, treatment, and support many individuals can thrive.
The Facts
Prevalence:
Approximately 9.8% of children aged 3-17 in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the CDC.
Gender Differences:
Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls, with about 13% of boys and 6% of girls affected, but girls often go undiagnosed since their symptoms are different than boys (less hyperactive).
Impact on Executive Function:
Executive function is a set of higher-level cognitive processes controlled by the brain's frontal lobe that act as an "air traffic control system" for managing information, regulating emotions, and achieving goals. Those with ADHD often have executive function deficits, but these skills can be improved upon.
Co-occurring Conditions:
Estimates vary by studies
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Anxiety 20-30%
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Children with ADHD are 3 times more likely to have an anxiety disorder than those without.
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Depression 10-30%
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Children with ADHD are at least 4 times more likely to become depressed than their peers.
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Learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dyscalculia 20-50%
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Conduct Disorder 27%
Who diagnoses it:
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Psychologists and Neuropsychologists
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Pediatricians and Primary Care Doctors
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Psychiatrists
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Psychiatric Advanced Practice Providers
Other Not So Known Effects of ADHD
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Intense rejection sensitivity
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"ADHD paralysis" (overwhelming inability to start tasks)
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Sleep problems: 25-50% of children/teens experience these
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Sensory sensitivities to lights, sounds, and textures
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Time blindness
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Stimming (fidgeting/self-soothing) that looks like obsessive compulsive disorder
Did You Know?
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An estimated 20-40% of U.S. prison inmates have undiagnosed and untreated ADHD.
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Untreated ADHD can lead to addictions, such as tobacco, alcohol, illegal substances, gambling, and compulsive shopping.
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People with ADHD are more likely to be obese due to a combination of impulsivity and dopamine-seeking behavior which often lead to binge eating, poor dietary choices, and lower physical activity levels.
Key Impacts of ADHD on Executive Function
Difficulty holding and manipulating information, such as forgetting instructions immediately after hearing them or losing track of tasks.
Impaired Task Initiation and Organization:
Struggle to start tasks, organize materials, manage time, and prioritize, often leading to chronic procrastination or feeling overwhelmed.
Emotional Dysregulation and Inhibition:
Challenges in controlling impulses, managing frustration, and inhibiting inappropriate reactions.
Difficulty monitoring one's own behavior in real-time and understanding how actions affect others.
Inability to sustain focus on tasks, easily distracted, and trouble re-engaging with tasks after interruptions.
Flexibility and Problem-Solving Challenges:
Difficulty adapting to new information or changing plans, often resulting in "stuck" behavior.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Resources
Websites:
Books:
by Edward Hallowell MD and John Ratey MD
12 Principles for Raising a Child with ADHD
by Russell Barkley, PhD
by Peg Dawson EdD, Richard Guare PhD, Colin Guare MS
What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew
by Sharon Saline, PhD
by Kathleen Nadeau PhD, Patricia Quinn MD, Ellen Littman PhD