ADHD is a mental health issue common in children. It can cause speech problems — including word pronunciation. Lack of fluency while speaking can cause pauses and repetition, making children sound as if they are stammering.
ADHD is short for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. It is a condition affecting the development of the nervous system that makes paying attention difficult and causes hyperactive and impulsive behavior. Though ADHD affects people during childhood, the condition may continue into adulthood.
A child without ADHD may sometimes have difficulty focusing during their development. But a child with ADHD doesn’t outgrow this behavior. It might even become more severe as they grow older and start socializing with friends at home and school.
What actually causes ADHD is unclear. However, genetics, brain injury, and environmental issues may all play a role.
A child may live on with unrecognized ADHD into adulthood. The condition presents a bit differently in adults than in children. Every individual may show ADHD symptoms differently from others.
Types of ADHD
Depending on the symptoms, ADHD is classified into three types:
- Predominantly inattentive presentation. The affected child has difficulty organizing tasks, remembering instructions or routines, and paying attention to detail.
- Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation. The affected child is impulsive, restless, and unable to focus or stay still while doing simple tasks.
- Combined presentation. This type is a combination of the other two types, and the affected child displays symptoms of both.
Symptoms of ADHD
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, a child with ADHD may show symptoms like:
- Fidgeting or squirming
- Daydreaming
- Excessive talking
- Forgetfulness
- Difficulty socializing
- Inability to resist temptation
- Carelessness
- Risky behavior
- Incapability to wait to take turns
ADHD and speech
Most people with ADHD have language or speech problems. This is caused by an inability to focus attention and by impulsive speech or behavior.
A child with ADHD may also have trouble in school. That's because people with ADHD have trouble putting ideas together and clearly giving voice to their ideas.
Individuals with ADHD may appear to speak without thinking first. They are unable to stop to think about what they are about to say. An affected child’s speech may sound unedited.
Their impulsive behavior also means that your conversation with them may have a lot of interruptions. Their impulsive speech might also be characterized by excessive talking and many monologues. As a result, it becomes hard for other people to participate in conversations with a child with ADHD.