Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Soile Loukusa

pp. 85-107

in: Louise Cummings (ed), Research in clinical pragmatics, Berlin, Springer, 2017

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common neuropsychiatric disorder diagnosed on the basis of inattention as well as hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms. These symptoms include and cause many kinds of pragmatic difficulties. These difficulties are manifested both in terms of understanding and expressing verbal and nonverbal language. Reported difficulties include, for example, excessive talking, poor conversational turn-taking, problems in topic maintenance, lack of coherence in narratives, difficulties in paying attention to relevant factors in communication and difficulties in understanding irony. Individuals with ADHD also often have difficulties with social perception (e.g. advanced theory of mind), language and other neuropsychiatric skills that, for their part, weaken the pragmatic language skills. Pragmatic and social language difficulties may increase social and societal difficulties of individuals with ADHD.