Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, will change the way a person relates to others, attends to information and understands information communicated. There are many challenges to overcome with ADHD, and communication is often one of those challenges. Parents, teachers, colleagues and others closely involved with a person who has ADHD will need to take steps to prevent communication problems with the individual.
Basics
Communication can happen verbally and nonverbally. Often, people provide information to others through the use of words and this information is either supported or not by the person's nonverbal cues and behavior. The nonverbal information given adds a significant amount of understanding to the words that were conveyed. ADHD causes a person to have problems with attention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity, which can cause breakdowns at different stages in the communication process.
Significance
Breakdowns in communication that result from the symptoms of ADHD can negatively impact a person's relationships. An individual with ADHD will have trouble listening and paying attention to what is said. This can cause her to not hear things that her partner wants or desires, which may make her partner feel as though she does not care. Also, when a person is unable to fully listen and focus on instructions or tasks to be completed, she will forget things and leave things unaccomplished, causing others to take over and feel as though they are doing everything, reports HelpGuide.org.
This breakdown in communication can make it hard for people with ADHD to form and maintain long-term relationships with others.
Considerations
A person with ADHD might have problems expressing himself or communicating with others as a result of the presence of other undiagnosed mental health problems. People with ADHD commonly have co-existing mental health disorders that include, but are not limited to, learning disorders, autism spectrum disorders and mood disorders. While having ADHD itself will impact a person's ability to communicate, the presence of any of these other disorders will also impede a person's normal communication skills. The presence of other mental health disorders must be weighed so specific interventions can be used.
Interventions
Improving communication problems requires the involvement of simple tasks. MayoClinic.com suggests interventions to increase communication skills such as writing down things that people say in a designated notebook and asking those close to you for help with your communication problems by repeating or reminding you of things they have said.
When engaged in communication, a person should focus on what is being said by making eye contact with the speaker, not interrupting the person who is talking, asking questions to obtain further information or to clarify information and having the speaker repeat what she said, notes HelpGuide.org.
Treatment
Both children and adults with ADHD can improve their communication through involvement in social skills training and family or marriage counseling. Through these treatment processes, the therapist will help the person gain an understanding of his communication flaws and how it affects others. Then the person will be taught how to fully understand all types of communication and put in place practical solutions to communication problems.
