ADHD means attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – a neurodevelopmental disorder. Studies say around 5% of the population have ADHD.
ADHD affects brain development and brain activity, so the performer with these conditions lacks attention. Children especially, lack the ability to sit still, and self-control, making their lives at school, home, and in friendships very difficult.
In this condition, children often appear hyperactive, doing stuff without thinking twice and they may look like they aren’t paying attention.
The question many parents have in mind, how can speech pathologists help children with ADHD? Well, studies have shown that approximately 82% of children with ADHD will have problems in at least one area of communication. And speech pathologists help these children with communication. They treat different types of speech disorders in children in Dubai.
Children with speech stuttering, sound difficulties, language and speech difficulties, social communication difficulties, swallowing difficulties and voice disorders,
literacy difficulties and other issues get professional help from speech and language pathologists(SLPs).
What types of speech disorders do children have with ADHD?
The first thing to mention is social communication skills – the skills where people use their language skills in social situations. This also includes nonverbal communication, such as making eye contact when one person is speaking to another, not interrupting others, not talking over the top of people, continuing the conversation, or waiting for turns in conversations.
Children with ADHD lack this skill. They even lack poorer pragmatic skills compared to their peers. They have strong impulses and often have difficulties specifically with turn-taking, eye contact in conversation, expanding the conversation, etc.
Then there are also children who suffer from dysfluency/stuttering. They tend to repeat words, extend phrases and sentences and have more pauses which make the conversation hard to continue.
Another disorder is specific learning difficulty in one of three major areas of reading, written expression and/or math. They have poor performance whether in writing or reading they find math very hard to understand.
These kids may also have language difficulties that can affect oral and written language.
See what happens in most cases of children with ADHD as they develop vocal nodules. As the children with ADHD often have a hoarse-sounding voice or even lose their voice. That’s why voice disorder is a common thing in children with ADHD.
How can a speech therapist/pathologist help a child with this condition?
Speech therapists or pathologists are experts in treating various types of speech disorders in children and growing adults.
Before the start the therapy program, they closely observe the condition of the child. They check their difficulty level, age, medical background, symptoms, and other factors and then they devise a unique therapy plan tailored for the kid.
They often work with the family/caregiver/teachers to investigate, diagnose and manage communication difficulties. They involve them in the therapy plan.
Now, this therapy is designed with specific exercises or activities to treat the specific disorder.
Train parents and carers or teachers in a range of strategies to support your child with ADHD at home and in the classroom setting.
Some exercises are- following directions, story retelling, role-playing conversations, calling them by their names to grab their attention, making eye contact while communicating, using gesture language, pairing written and verbal instructions, matching pictures, vocabulary games, tongue twisters, pretend play and more!
Final Words
Hope AMC offers compassionate speech therapy for children with ADHD and other neurological conditions.
We have the most experienced and competent therapists and doctors in our clinics. We offer tailored therapy for all types of speech disorders in children in Dubai.
Visit our website for details! Schedule a consultation now!
