Attention is a complex process that requires the coordination of several cognitive functions. ADHD children have difficulty maintaining attention and registering instructions. They often have trouble finishing what they start and often have difficulty concentrating in class. ADHD children often have difficulty controlling their impulses and following directions. These difficulties can be very frustrating for children and parents.
Why do children with ADHD have trouble following instructions?
There are several reasons why ADHD children have trouble following instructions. First, ADHD children often have trouble focusing and staying focused. Second, they tend to be impulsive and have trouble waiting their turn. Finally, they may have trouble understanding instructions if they are not clear.
ADHD children often need more time to follow instructions. They may need to hear them several times or see them in writing. ADHD children also need more detailed instructions. Instructions should be simple and clear. It is also important to give them time to ask questions if they don't understand something.
ADHD children need a calm and orderly environment to work in. They may need fewer distractions and more time to focus.
Be aware that the ADHD child thinks in pictures. In other words, all words that cannot be represented by a mental or sensory image mean nothing to him! This leads to a more limited understanding of the language.
All words like :
- of, the, for, in, that, their, its, where...
- the present indicative, the pronoun, the adverb
- as we go along, however, already
- to be, to wait, to stay, to concentrate, to compose, to convert, to conjugate
- all words that have the same pronunciation but not the same spelling or meaning
- thread , thread
- its (noise) , its (possessive) , are (verb to be) ...
For an ADHD person, these words are as difficult to understand as Japanese.
So it's not necessarily that he doesn't listen to the instructions, but he doesn't understand them.
And the big problem is that in general, the ADHD child will not say that he/she did not understand. Or at least, he will not express it in words but in behavioral problems such as inattention, impulsivity or hyperactivity. Or they may think they understand when they don't.
It is therefore vital that the ADHD child has at least one person around him or her whom he or she trusts and with whom he or she feels comfortable expressing "I don't understand what you're asking me to do", without having the person's negative judgment in return.
ADHD in children: why do they have trouble following instructions?
ADHD children often have trouble listening to instructions. This is because their attention is often divided and they have trouble focusing on one thing at a time. In addition, they tend to be impulsive and often have difficulty controlling their actions. These characteristics can make it difficult for ADHD children to follow directions.
It is important to work with ADHD children to help them better understand what is expected of them. It can be helpful to give them both verbal and non-verbal instructions, to show them what is expected of them, and to give them concrete examples. ADHD children often need more time to understand instructions and it is important to give them time to do this.
A child with ADHD has difficulty listening to instructions because he or she often has trouble concentrating and remembering what to do. They may be distracted by what is going on around them and may have trouble sitting still in class. Children with ADHD often need more help and support to succeed in school.
Some solutions for your ADHD child to listen to instructions
1. get him out of his bubble before talking to him
Being in his bubble is his nature. Whether he is immersed in his activity or in his world, it will be useless to talk to him in these conditions. So make sure he looks at you. If necessary, take the time to touch him on the shoulder or face him, so that he knows that we are talking to him.
2. Give instructions like a stewardess
Next, combine your words with gestures with a smile. In a way, we have to consider our ADHDs as strangers on board who do not easily understand the language of the country.
They have a limited understanding of verbal language, they understand better and prefer non-verbal language and language in images.
3. Talking in pictures
When you say a word that may be complicated for him, always rephrase it in several ways to make sure he understands it or does not confuse it with another meaning of the word. Or use analogiesof the images.
