ADHD and Learning Disabilities: Understanding the Overlap and Supporting Your Child

Child with ADHD and Learning Disabilities

The ADHD-Learning Disability Link

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is not a learning disability in itself—but it affects the brain’s executive functions, such as:

• Attention and focus

• Working memory

• Task initiation and completion

• Organization

These skills are the foundation for learning. So when ADHD is present, it can mask or amplify the symptoms of a learning disability like:

• Dyslexia (reading challenges)

• Dysgraphia (writing difficulties)

• Dyscalculia (math struggles)

• Auditory Processing Disorder

In fact, up to 50% of children with ADHD also have a specific learning disability. That’s why it’s so important to consider both when a child is falling behind in school.

How the Two Conditions Interact

Here’s how ADHD and learning disabilities can look when they coexist:

Chart comparing ADHD and Learning Disabilities

This overlap can make diagnosis tricky—kids are often misidentified as “lazy” or “unmotivated,” when in fact, they’re working much harder than peers just to keep up. ADHD Life Medical Associates can help you with this.

How to Know If Your Child Has Both

Consider a full psychoeducational evaluation or a cognitive assessment tool like MindPrint, which looks at:

• Working memory

• Processing speed

• Attention control

• Reasoning

• Verbal and visual skills

Using these tools in conjunction with working with a trusted provider like ADHD Life Medical Associates, can help uncover not just if a learning disability exists, but also how your child learns best—whether they have ADHD, a learning disability, or both.

Strategies That Work

Here’s the good news: kids with ADHD and learning disabilities can thrive when they get the right support, which often includes a combination of:

✔️ Academic Accommodations

• 504 plans or IEPs tailored to both attention and learning needs

• Extra time, reduced distractions, alternative testing formats

✔️ Executive Function Coaching

• Help with organization, planning, time management

✔️ Targeted Academic Intervention

• Structured reading or math programs

• Multi-sensory instruction for dyslexia

✔️ Therapy & Medication

• Behavioral therapy for emotional regulation

• Medication (when appropriate) to improve focus

What Parents Can Do

• Don’t wait: Early identification leads to better outcomes.

• Ask questions: If one diagnosis doesn’t explain everything, dig deeper.

• Advocate: You know your child best—your voice matters in meetings with teachers or specialists.

• Collaborate: The best outcomes come from a team approach—educators, therapists, parents, and your medical provider at ADHD Life Medical Associates, working together.

Final Thoughts

When ADHD and learning disabilities coexist, it’s not a double setback—it’s a double signal to support your child in ways that match how their brain works. These kids are often incredibly creative, resilient, and full of potential. With the right tools and understanding, they can not only catch up—but truly shine. Let us help you today at ADHD Life Medical Associates.

Need help getting started? Sign up today for the MindPrint Assessment, which tests cognitive abilities and offers support plans tailored to your child’s unique learning profile.
👉 Schedule your assessment today or learn more about MindPrint here.

Need an Executive Function Coach? Help with recommendations for an IEP or 504 plan? Sign up today with ADHD Life Medical Associates here.