ADHD Nikisha A., Jaeseok C., and Fatimah M. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder According 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 combination The 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 ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders. It can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused, paying attention, controlling behavior, and hyperactivity.

Statistics According 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 Before they learn to speak and begin to attach verbal labels to things, infants must touch, feel and taste as a means of gaining information about the world. Once they learn to use language effectively, words replace touch. Impulsive toddlers, however, often have difficulty making this transition. Typically they continue to need to touch and feel things, possibly as a means of gaining sensory input from the world. This problem may lead to difficulty understanding personal space in older children with ADHD.

ADHD Impact on Communication Children who have ADHD may experience: Syntactic errors Deficits in working memory Difficulties in literacy Pragmatic language skills Excessive and inappropriate talking during social interactions Difficulties maintaining a topic and poor turn-taking skills Difficulties demonstrating their ability to understand or produce spoken language  Difficulties understanding the relationship between sounds, letters, and words Reading comprehension problems With thoughts constantly moving quickly around and distractions taking attention away, it can be hard to locate the piece of information within the vast storage of the brain. Therefore, the correct words or phrases do not come. The ADD person becomes frustrated because they know what they want to convey, they can feel what they want to convey, and sometimes they think they have conveyed that very thought. But somewhere, it has been misconstrued, or not understood.

How Does ADHD affect Reading/Writing Abilities Reading 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 Language and communication learning disabilities involve the ability to understand or produce spoken language. Language is also considered an output activity because it requires organizing thoughts in the brain and calling upon the right words to verbally explain something or communicate with someone else.   Signs of a language–based learning disorder involve problems with verbal language skills, such as the ability to retell a story and the fluency of speech, as well as the ability to understand the meaning of words, parts of speech, directions, etc.

Language-Based Impediments on Second language acquisition for ADHD children Reading -poor reading ability or poor comprehension. Writing- difficulty with writing mechanics, organizing ideas/organizing thoughts on paper Language- misinterpreting language or poor communication of what was said Auditory-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 schedules Attention-Short attention span, impulsive, difficulty conforming There are several language weaknesses in the first language that may have impact on the study of a foreign language. A student may demonstrate some of the behaviors listed above:

Teaching Strategies 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 These strategies can be helpful when dealing with students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Attention Deficit Disorder

Resources ADHD and Language Difficulties http://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 Here are a list of some helpful resources for teachers and other educational staff to assist students with ADHD.