ADHD and learning disabilities: What’s the difference, and why does it matter?

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) isn’t a learning disability, but it can make learning more difficult. That’s because, depending on the type of ADHD, some of the condition’s characteristics can include inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and difficulty controlling behavior. 

What’s more: 30% to 50% of children with ADHD do have a learning disability. But ADHD doesn’t make it more difficult to learn skills like reading, writing, and math, like a learning disability can. The difference is ADHD can make it harder to perform these skills because, for example, a child can’t focus on reading a book’s chapter. 

Understanding the differences between ADHD and a learning disability can help you find the right support, whether it’s for yourself or your loved one.  

How can ADHD affect learning?

Picture this: A kid who is bouncing in their classroom chair, calling out the answer to a question without being called upon, or can’t follow the instructions their teacher gives. Any of these can signal a child who might have ADHD, though it’s not a fool-proof method to determine if a child has the condition. A professional evaluation is essential for a correct diagnosis. 

ADHD symptoms fall into three different groups: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined (a child with this type displays symptoms from both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD). Here’s what the symptoms can look like in the classroom and at home:

Inattentive:

• Makes frequent mistakes in homework 
• Gets easily distracted 
• Has difficulty following instructions
• Appears to not be listening when talked to
• Struggles with organizing tasks and belongings
• Usually doesn’t complete school work or classroom or home chores
• Often avoids or opposes homework or other related tasks that call for continued mental effort

Hyperactive-impulsive:

• Usually fidgets or squirms 
• Has difficulty staying in seat
• Has difficulty  playing quietly
• Is very impatient
• Talks a lot
• Calls out answer before question is finished
• Interrupts in conversations

ADHD can be considered a type of neurodivergence. A neurodiverse brain may operate a little differently than someone who is considered neurotypical. For instance, brains of people with ADHD show differences in structure.

Specifically, for people with ADHD, neural pathways don’t connect as efficiently or develop differently because of reduced levels of neurotransmitters like noradrenaline and dopamine. Noradrenaline is responsible for things like attention, memory, stress reactions, and dopamine also influences mood as well as feeling good and movement.  

Is it a learning disability, ADHD, or both?

It can be hard to tell if you’re dealing with ADHD, a learning disability, or both, given how the symptoms from these conditions can overlap. However, ADHD and a learning disability are identified differently. For kids up to age 16, healthcare providers look for six or more symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity occurring for at least six months or not in line with the child’s development level.   

Usually, learning disabilities are caught when a child is in school. There are two different ways for schools to test children for learning disabilities. One is called the response-to-intervention model. It involves checking how students respond to learning interventions and noticing which are struggling.Their progress is continuously monitored and adjustments are made as needed. When a student fails to respond positively to the intervention, they may be diagnosed with a learning disability. 

The other method (called the severe discrepancy model) involves a professional — usually a school psychologist — evaluating a kid’s general abilities or IQ. Their results are compared to those of other kids their age, along with the child’s academic skills. If there’s a big difference between these scores, the child might have a learning disability. 

Some learning disabilities look more like ADHD, like dyslexia (difficulty with reading and writing), dysgraphia (impairs writing ability like spelling and handwriting), and dyscalculia (affects ability to understand numbers and math). To complicate things, all of these learning disabilities commonly co-occur with ADHD. Around 3 in 10 people with dyslexia have ADHD too. 

Why isn’t ADHD considered a learning disability?

While ADHD and learning disabilities can mirror each other in how they manifest, ADHD isn’t considered a learning disability. That’s because ADHD doesn’t impair academic skills but does affect executive function, which helps the brain with organization, planning, focus, and other similar skills. So, if a child’s executive functioning is affected, it might be harder for them to pay attention and learn new topics in class. 

Diagnosing ADHD and learning disabilities

If you want to get your child tested for ADHD or a learning disability, work with a qualified healthcare provider like a pediatrician, psychologist (from your child’s school or not), or psychiatrist to conduct an evaluation.

A licensed mental health professional can determine if your child is experiencing ADHD, a learning disability, or a combination of both. They’ll also screen for other issues, like anxiety or trauma, which may manifest as ADHD symptoms.

A professional evaluation is of critical importance to ensure your child receives the correct treatment to manage their condition(s). Failing to address one and not the other may result in frustration and lower self-esteem. Getting a second opinion may be helpful to avoid a misdiagnosis. 

Managing ADHD and its impact on learning

You can do a lot to reduce the impact ADHD has on your child’s life. Routine and structure can go a long way in lessening the effect of poor executive functioning. 

Exercise is also a good go-to strategy because children with ADHD can have a lot of excess energy. And while the world is increasingly distracting for all of us, children with ADHD may have less ability to stave off these distractions. So, turning off the TV or banning social media can help them focus.  

Therapy can also be a helpful intervention — specifically cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of therapy can involve a behavioral modification approach that involves teaching children alternative coping strategies for emotional intelligence, problem solving, organizational skills, and time management. CBT provides the tools necessary to build lifelong strategies.  

Don’t expect therapy to be a quick fix though. Every child with ADHD is different and will respond to different types of treatment. Supporting a child in their mental health journey can require time and patience, but your compassion, involvement in treatment, and care can make a lifelong difference and help them grow into successful, healthy adults. 

Find care with Rula

The truth is that supporting a child with ADHD can be challenging for both you and the child. But help is available. Your child shouldn’t go through life thinking there’s something wrong with them, and you shouldn’t face their diagnosis alone. Know that many kids with ADHD learn how to manage their symptoms in healthy ways and go on to have rewarding relationships and careers. 

With Rula, you can explore a diverse network of therapists who offer specialized care for a variety of concerns, including ADHD. Our convenient therapist-matching system can connect you with a therapist in as little as two days.

Start care with Rula