Communicate With Children With ADHD

Kids with ADHD have difficulty paying attention, they are easily distracted and have short attention spans. Most parents and teachers complain that they simply do not listen. A few strategies can be used to improve their listening skills.

Steps

 * 1)  Say less.  The less you say, the more the ADHD child hears.  If you give them a long lecture they are most likely to forget every single word, if you can condense what you need to say into a few words it's more likely they will listen and remember.  [[Image:Cope With a Bipolar Child Step 3.jpg|center|550px]]
 * 2)  Get the child's attention before you speak.  Say their name and then wait for them to look at you and acknowledge what you are saying. Make sure they look at you in the eyes; if they aren't looking they usually aren't listening.  [[Image:Keep Your Child Healthy Step 12.jpg|center|550px]]
 * 3)  Remove distractions before you try to speak.  Don't try to compete with the TV or video games or yell instructions across a busy room.  Wait until they are done, turn it off, or have them come to you before you start speaking.  [[Image:Enjoy a Sick Day Step 2.jpg|center|550px]]
 * 4)  Give instructions 1 at a time, ADHD kids can't hold onto a number of instructions and follow them all.  Usually if you give too many, none will be completed.  [[Image:Limit Kids' Time on Internet Step 7.jpg|center|550px]]
 * 5)  If you don't think they were listening or heard what you said, ask them to repeat it back to you.  [[Image:Stimulate Children's Self Confidence Step 5.jpg|center|550px]]
 * 6)  Repeat, don't expect to say something once and have it sink in permanently.  [[Image:Limit Kids' Time on Internet Step 1.jpg|center|550px]]

Related wikiHows

 * How to Naturally Treat Adhd
 * How to Deal With ADHD Kids
 * How to Help an ADHD Child Learn to Spell
 * How to Discipline a Child With ADHD
 * How to Focus with ADHD