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Dyslexia vs ADHD

KoolMinds Team
Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects a person's language ability, making it difficult to learn to read, spell, decode, and recognize words. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders and is characterized by patterns of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. These two conditions can have overlapping characteristics, but it is also common for them to occur together.

Common Characteristics Between Students with Dyslexia and Students with ADHD 

One of the common characteristics is that they both have difficulty with reading. A student with dyslexia is typically dysfluent and struggles with accuracy and they tend to misread small and large words. A student with ADHD may also be dysfluent but it is because they tend to skip over punctuation, leave off endings or lose their place when reading. The dysfluency of both students may negatively impact reading comprehension. 

Other common characteristics for students with Dyslexia and ADHD include difficulty paying attention, avoiding reading, deriving little pleasure from reading, handwriting struggles and problems with grammar, spelling, proofreading and organization. 

Tips for Teaching Grammar to Students with Dyslexia and ADHD

  • Make sure that your student understands the importance of grammar; explain to them how grammar creates clearer communication.
  • Break up learning into short chunks of time and content.
  • Use multisensory teaching techniques and visual learning cues to teach grammar.
  • Give students time to master specific skills before moving on to another skill.
  • Use assistive technology such as grammar checkers.

Articles/Resources

Videos 

Dyslexia and ADHD: Similarities & Differences

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Sources:
[i] CHADD. (2018, November 1). Two Conditions, One Struggle: Teaching Students with ADHD and Dyslexia. https://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/two-conditions-one-struggle-teaching-students-with-adhd-and-dyslexia/
[ii]  Mbernard, M. (2018, March 23). Teaching Grammar to Those with Dyslexia. Orton Gillingham Online Academy. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://ortongillinghamonlinetutor.com/teaching-grammar-to-those-with-dyslexia/
[iii] Time4Learning. (2018, September 21). Teaching Grammar to Students with Dyslexia. https://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling/special-needs/dyslexia/teaching-grammar.html
[iv] Why Writing May Be Tough for Your Child With ADHD. (2020, September 17). Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/writing-and-adhd-20821


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