ADHD and reading: Reading help for students with ADHD

ADHD can affect children's and adults' ability to read. Staying focused can be difficult, and it may also be challenging to retain information. Reading tasks can feel like a chore, as you may find yourself needing to read something over and over again.

There are strategies that can help both children and adults with ADHD with reading. These strategies can help to:

• Improve focus
• Better understand what has been read
• Retain information

Understanding how ADHD affects reading can help individuals and their support networks find ways to improve understanding and enjoyment of reading. This resource discusses the strategies you can use to benefit your or your child's reading.

Table of contents

• How does ADHD affect reading for students?
• Strategies that can help ADHD students with reading
• How to remember what you read
• How does ADHD affect reading for adults?
• Looking to get an ADHD assessment?

How does ADHD affect reading for students

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. These experiences can affect a person's ability to focus on and process written material.

Inattention

Inattention is a characteristic of ADHD that can significantly affect the focus needed to read for long periods. Inattention can lead to:

• Difficulty maintaining attention while reading
• Being easily distracted
• Frequently losing place in the text
• Skipping lines or sections unintentionally

Hyperactivity and impulsivity

Hyperactivity and impulsivity are common traits of ADHD that can make reading hard. This may result in:

• Restlessness and the inability to sit still while reading
• Impulsively skipping through the text without fully understanding it
• Difficulty waiting to reach the conclusion, leading to rushed reading
• Frequent interruptions during reading sessions
• Struggles with staying quiet and focused in a reading environment

Working memory

Working memory issues associated with ADHD can impact reading comprehension and retention. This can look like:

• Forgetting what was just read, making it hard to follow the text
• Difficulty matching new information with previously read content
• Challenges understanding and remembering instructions or plots
• Needing to reread sections multiple times to understand

Strategies that can help ADHD students with reading

There are many approaches that can help ADHD students improve their reading skills. While someone may already be being treated with medication, these strategies can help those with or without medication to improve their concentration and comprehension.

Break reading tasks into shorter segments

Breaking reading tasks into shorter, more manageable chunks allows reading to feel like less of a task overall. Whether this is done through timed reading, or a certain number of pages, this can help students to focus as they will be reading for a shorter time.

Schedule regular breaks

Scheduling regular breaks goes hand in hand with breaking reading tasks into shorter chunks. Using regular breaks as a strategy helps to prevent fatigue and improve concentration.

Interactive reading

Interactive reading is a way to improve focus by making reading more of a “hands-on” activity. This may include using highlighters to bolden important information, taking notes separately, or even talking with another student, teacher, or parent about an important section of information.

Create a distraction-free environment

Creating a quiet and distraction-free environment allows students to find themselves more motivated when reading. Minimising interruptions creates fewer distractions, and improved concentration.

Use assistive technology

Some ADHD students may find that using assistive reading technology, such as audiobooks, may help them concentrate and retain information. Combining auditory and visual inputs can improve understanding and retention.

How to remember what has been read

One of the most common difficulties of reading with ADHD is retaining the information. Here are some strategies that may be useful when trying to improve reading memory:

Take breaks

Taking brief breaks allows you to move around and ease any issues that may arise when reading. Short, frequent breaks can help reset focus and make it easier to digest the material.

Read aloud

Although reading aloud may take longer than reading silently, it can help to avoid distractions and remain focused. Hearing the words as they’re read can reinforce comprehension and retention.

Move around while reading

Incorporating movement, such as pacing or using a standing desk, can help manage hyperactivity and maintain concentration. Physical activity can stimulate brain function and improve focus.

Discuss what has just been read

Talking about the material with someone else can reinforce what’s been learned and improve memory. Explaining concepts to others or participating in discussions can help solidify understanding and make it easier to recall information later.

How does ADHD affect reading for adults?

Adults with ADHD may experience a range of challenges when it comes to reading, often stemming from the core experiences of the condition.

Inattention

Inattention can significantly impact the ability to focus on reading for a long time. Adults with ADHD might find their minds wandering, have difficulty paying attention, or struggle to follow lengthy texts. This can result in missed details and a lack of understanding.

Hyperactivity

Hyperactivity in adults might not be as obvious as physical restlessness, but as a mental restlessness that makes it hard to sit still and focus on reading. Impulsivity can lead to skipping sections of text or jumping between different reading materials without fully absorbing the content.

Working memory

Working memory issues associated with ADHD can make it difficult to retain information read over longer passages. Adults with ADHD might forget what they have just read, making it hard to build on previous information and understand the text as a whole.

Some other difficulties may include:

• Sustained attention and working memory
• Comprehension difficulties
• Procrastination and avoidance

Looking to get an ADHD assessment?

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Contact us now at 0203 326 9160.

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