Enhancing Reading Skills for Children with ADHD

It’s not a secret that kids with ADHD often have a challenging time in school. One of the most common areas of difficulty is reading. If your child is struggling with reading, you may be wondering what you can do to help. Luckily, there are a few things you can try at home to help your child improve their reading skills. One approach that has shown to be effective is a multi-sensory approach to helping kids with ADHD read. What Is A Multi-Sensory Approach To Reading? Simply put, it’s an approach that engages more than one sense while reading. This could mean using your fingers to trace the words as you read them out loud or using a pointer to follow along under the words as you read. Some kids find it helpful to read in a quiet place where they can focus, while others prefer to read while listening to music or white noise in the background. There is no one right way to do it; it’s all about finding what works for your child. Why Does This Approach Work? For kids with ADHD, using more than one sense while reading helps them focus better and retain information. It also allows them to move around while reading, which can be helpful for kids who have trouble sitting still. And since every child is different, there’s a good chance that one of these methods will be more effective for your child than traditional reading instruction alone. Things You Can DoAt Home To Help Your Kid With ADHD Read Here are a few ideas by our ADHD pediatricians for how you can implement a multi-sensory approach to reading at home:

Use your fingers to trace the words as you read them out loud. This will help your child focus on the words and see how they’re pronounced simultaneously.
Use a pointer to follow along under the words as you read. This can help your child keep their place and pay attention to the words on the page.
Read in a quiet placewhere your child can focus without distractions. This may help them pay more attention to what they’re reading.
Read while listening to music. This can help some kids focus and block out other distractions around them.

If you want to get your child tested for ADHD, our board-certified pediatricians at A Thru Z Pediatrics can help. From well-child visits to FDA-approved ADHD testing, we can help you manage your child’s illness. We’ll work with you and your child to develop a customized action plan to manage your child’s specific condition. Get in touch with one of our ADHD pediatricians in San Antonio, TX.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have concerns about your child's health, call your A thru Z Pediatrics office.