Peer Relationships and ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can make peer relationships or friendships very difficult. Having friends is important to children's wellbeing and may be very important to their long-term development.
Although some children with ADHD have no trouble getting along with other children, others have difficulty in their relationships with their peers. For example, they might not have close friends, or might even be rejected by other children. Children who have difficulty making friends might also more likely have anxiety, behavioral and mood disorders, substance abuse, or delinquency as teenagers.
How does ADHD interfere with peer relationships?
Exactly how ADHD contributes to social problems is not fully understood. Children who are inattentive sometimes seem shy or withdrawn to their peers. Children with symptoms of impulsivity/hyperactivity may be rejected by their peers because they are intrusive, may not wait their turn, or may act aggressively. In addition, children with ADHD are also more likely than those without ADHD to have other disorders that interfere with getting along with others.
Having ADHD does not mean a child won't have friends.
Not everyone with ADHD has difficulty getting along with others. For those children who do have difficulty, many things can be done to help them with relationships. The earlier a child's difficulties with peers are noticed, the more successful intervention may be. Although researchers don't have definitive answers on what works best for children with ADHD, some things parents might consider as they help their child build and strengthen peer relationships are as follows:
- Pay attention to how children get along with peers. These relationships can be just as important as grades to school success.
- Regularly talk with people who play important roles in your child's life (such as teachers, school counselors, afterschool activity leaders, health care providers, etc.). Keep updated on your child's social development in community and school settings.
- Involve your child in activities with other children. Talk with other parents, sports coaches, and other involved adults about any progress or problems that may develop with your child.
- Peer programs can be helpful, particularly for older children and teenagers. Social skills training alone has not shown to be effective, but peer programs where children practice getting along with others can help. Schools and communities often have such programs available (find out more at Link opens in a new windowhttps://effectivechildtherapy.org/concerns-symptoms-disorders/disorders/inattention-and-hyperactivity-adhd). You may want to talk to your health care provider and someone at your child's school about programs that might help.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD). (Reviewed 2022, August 9). Other concerns and conditions with ADHD: Difficult peer relationships. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov