Following Every Direction, Every Time

Strategies to help children with ADHD hear what you tell them to do — not just “bits and pieces.”

The problem: Difficulty following instructions is a hallmark of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children may seem to understand and even write down your directions, then turn in the wrong assignment or execute it in the wrong way.

The reason: A student with ADHD has difficulty focusing and sustaining attention. When instructions are given, she may not be “tuned in” at that precise moment. Often she’ll hear the teacher’s first direction, then become distracted by other thoughts or stimuli. She may hear only bits and pieces, or hear and achieve only one of four assigned tasks. Difficulty processing language exacerbates the problem...FULL ARTICLE HERE