Why Kids With ADHD Struggle To Make Friends – And 7 Expert Ways Parents Can Help

A psychiatrist and psychologist share 7 ways parents can offer gentle support.

Parents editor at HuffPost UK

Some of the ways in which attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) manifests can have a knock-on effect on the way children interact with their friends.

It’s estimated almost 882,000 children in the UK have ADHD, which is typically characterised by symptoms such as struggling to pay attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour.

Many of the core features of ADHD can ultimately impact friendships and social situations, which can occasionally lead to children struggling to connect with those around them – or feeling left out.

Why kids with ADHD can struggle socially

There are multiple factors that can play into this. Dr Mukesh Kripalani, consultant psychiatrist at The ADHD Centre, told HuffPost UK that a child’s impulsivity might mean they interrupt, blurt things out, struggle to wait for their turn or occasionally invade other people’s personal space.

“To another child, that can sometimes be interpreted as being rude, bossy or controlling, when that is not the child’s intention at all,” he said.

Those with inattention might miss some of the subtle verbal and non-verbal cues that are part of social interaction. “They may not notice that a friend is getting bored or annoyed, or they may zone out while somebody else is talking, which can unfortunately be interpreted as a lack of interest,” he added.

Emotional regulation can also play a role. If a child experiences emotions very intensely, and they’ve not yet developed the strategies to manage those feelings, something relatively small, such as losing a board game or having a disagreement with a friend, can sometimes trigger a huge reaction.

And lastly, executive functioning difficulties can make it harder to adapt when a game or activity changes. “A child may have a very fixed idea about how a game should be played, struggle to compromise or find it difficult to shift from one activity to another,” said the........

© HuffPost