# The Impact of ADHD on Children’s Language Development

## TL;DR

This study reviews how ADHD affects children's language development and highlights the importance of early, individualized interventions to support their language and social skills.

## Contribution

A systematic review of ADHD's impact on language development, emphasizing the role of occupational therapists and psychologists in intervention strategies.

## Key findings

- ADHD affects multiple language dimensions, including phonological awareness and narrative skills.
- Language difficulties in ADHD are linked to deficits in working memory and attention.
- Strategic interventions can improve language and social skills in children with ADHD.

## Abstract

Background: This research explores the complex relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and language skills, focusing on the impact of the disorder on children’s language development. It is designed as a systematic literature review to synthesize and evaluate existing evidence on this topic. Based on the existing literature, ADHD affects multiple dimensions of language, including phonological awareness, pragmatic comprehension, morphosyntactic structure, narrative skills, and written expression. The difficulties that children with ADHD exhibit at the language level are directly related to their deficits in working memory, attention, and organization, which make it challenging for them to acquire and use language at both educational and social levels. Methods: This study followed the PRISMA methodology, with a systematic selection process across four stages (identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion). During the identification phase, 475 records were identified (450 from database searches and 25 through reference screening). After screening and applying inclusion criteria, 15 studies met all eligibility requirements and were included in the final synthesis. Results: The present research highlighted the important role that occupational therapists and psychologists can play in the language development of children with ADHD. Strategic interventions to alleviate the language difficulties of children with ADHD are designed to enhance phonological awareness, executive function, speech and language, the use of technological tools, and social skills training. Conclusions: The importance of early diagnosis and implementation of holistic, individualized interventions targeting the language, executive, and social difficulties manifested by children with ADHD is considered influential in addressing the barriers to improving language skills as effectively as possible.