[The impact of ADHD on reading]

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Educational Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Context:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occurs with reading disorders like dyslexia.
• Understanding the specific mechanisms by which ADHD affects reading acquisition is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose:

• To review empirical evidence on the negative impact of ADHD on learning to read.
• To elucidate how ADHD symptoms influence precursor reading skills, decoding, and comprehension.

Summary:

• ADHD, particularly inattention, directly and indirectly affects reading acquisition by impacting precursor skills.
• Decoding skills (accuracy and fluency) are impaired by ADHD through distractibility and executive function deficits.
• Reading comprehension is likely affected indirectly by ADHD-related executive and verbal memory difficulties.

Impact:

• Findings highlight the need for tailored interventions for reading difficulties in individuals with ADHD.
• Improved characterization of reading challenges in ADHD can lead to more effective educational and clinical support.
• This review informs educators, clinicians, and researchers on the complex interplay between ADHD and reading development.