Distractibility
ADHD isn't just an inability to pay attention, it's an inability to control what one pays attention to. Children with ADHD are easily distracted when an activity is not sufficiently stimulating. In these situations, they are unable to inhibit their response to distractions and, because of this, often miss important lessons, instructions or directions.
Children with ADHD struggle to stay focused on long lectures or tedious tasks that require sustained mental effort. Teachers and parents can help in this struggle in a number of ways.
What Helps
Partner with Your Child's Teacher
As a parent of a child with ADHD, you may want to share this information with your child's teacher:
- Where a teacher places a student with ADHD in the classroom is very important. Try to keep them close to the teacher and away from doors and windows.
- To prevent singling out the child with ADHD, offer everyone in the class the chance to use privacy dividers, earphones or earplugs to block out distractions during classwork or tests.
- Alternate between high and low interest activities, using a variety of strategies to accommodate the multitude of learning styles in the room.
- Try to include visual, auditory and kinesthetic opportunities in all lessons, as well as opportunities to work cooperatively, individually and with the large group.
- Keep lesson periods short and vary the pacing from one lesson to the next.
- Students who become distracted should not be reprimanded but redirected in a way that does not cause embarrassment.
At Home
Parents often struggle to help their children avoid distractions that interfere with homework. There are a number of ways to accomplish this:
- Establish a daily homework routine. Your child may need a break between school and homework.
- Experiment with the right way to "set the stage" for homework. Some children need a distraction-free environment while others do better with music in the background.
- Sit down with your child to make sure he or she understands what is required.
- Most children with ADHD need constant adult supervision but as the situation improves or the child matures, it may be sufficient to check in from time to time.
- Providing short breaks between assignments and allowing the child to stretch or snack often makes the workload more manageable.
- If your child feels overwhelmed, try breaking down an assignment into smaller, easier tasks, with a clear end point, and a break between tasks.
- Alert the teacher when your child does not have the skills to complete an assignment or if it takes an inordinately long time.