Disclaimer: Human Health is not recommending any specific medical treatment for any particular symptom, nor providing any other medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor regarding any medical concern. Please note this list is not exhaustive.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, known more commonly as ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by symptoms including impulsive or hyperactive behavior, and difficulties with attention, organizing, and planning. 2022 survey data from the CDC found that 11.4% of school-aged U.S. children had been diagnosed with ADHD.

Does ADHD affect learning?

Neurodevelopmental conditions are those which affect the development of the brain and spinal cord. These changes may result in a number of manifestations depending on what part of the nervous system is affected, and to what extent.

Reviews of scientific evidence suggest that for people with ADHD, the areas of the brain that may be affected may include those responsible for executive functions such as planning, organizing, and attention, as well as structures implicated in mood and behavior regulation.

It’s not known what causes the brain to develop in this atypical manner, but research suggests that both environmental and genetic causes may be involved.

Because brain structure and function is affected by ADHD, people with the condition may experience some impact to their ability to learn. This may be related to the nature of ADHD, in that it affects skills such as attention to detail, ability to maintain focus or sit still for long periods, ability to ignore distractions, and memory.

Despite this, ADHD is not considered a learning disability.

Why isn’t ADHD classified as a learning disability?

The functional consequences of ADHD symptoms, such as difficulty with focus, planning, or hyperactive behavior, are often what results in difficulties with learning for people with ADHD.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), learning disabilities are conditions which specifically impact academic skills and the ability to learn. Examples of learning disabilities include dyslexia (difficulty with reading), or dyscalculia (difficulty with mathematics).

Because learning difficulties experienced by people with ADHD are often attributed to the functional consequences of ADHD, such as difficulty with focus, planning, or hyperactive behavior, ADHD is not considered a specific learning disability.

It should be noted that the DSM-5 specifies that there is common co-occurrence of learning disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD.

Can people with ADHD still receive learning support?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a disability as “A person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.”

The ADA considers ADHD to be protected under this definition, and as such, people with ADHD may be eligible for accommodations including learning support.

However, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) only allocates funding for education support for those with disabilities who require “specially designed instruction and related services” as a result of their disability. Therefore, someone with ADHD may only qualify for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) sponsored by IDEA if they meet a certain threshold of functional impairment.

In short, a person with ADHD may be eligible for some learning support, however the extent of the accomodations and their funding may depend on the severity of symptoms and their impact on the person’s learning.

How can I tell if ADHD is impacting my ability to learn?

People like teachers or education support staff who observe student progress in class may be able to provide some insight into how an individual’s behavior may be affected by their ADHD symptoms. If a student’s learning is significantly impacted, school staff may be able to help implement an Individualized Education Plan or other plan to improve learning outcomes.

To accurately understand how ADHD symptoms may be affecting you or your loved one over time, it might be useful to use a health tracking app.

Human Health is a free mobile app, designed to help people with chronic conditions like ADHD gain insight into how their symptoms and treatments are affecting their health. Users can track the severity of symptoms like ‘Difficulty with written communication’ and ‘Difficulty concentrating’ daily, to create a comprehensive overview of their impact that might help identify if they are having trouble with activities like learning.

Click here to download Human Health.

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Resources

1. Centers for Disease Control (United States). Data and Statistics on ADHD. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/data/index.html
2. Tripp, Gail & Wickens, Jeff. (2009). Neurobiology of ADHD. Neuropharmacology. 57. 579-89. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26691291
3. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
4. Americans with Disabilities Act National Network. Disability Rights Laws in Public Primary and Secondary Education: How Do They Relate? Available at: https://adata.org/factsheet/disability-rights-laws-public-primary-and-secondary-education-how-do-they-relate

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