Social Skills and ADHD
Children with both ADD and ADHD can have difficulty making friends. Those with ADD are shy or introverted. They may have a hard time reaching out to other children, although once they make a friend they tend to remain friends. Children with ADHD, on the other hand, can be impulsive and hyperactive. This may make it appear as though they are outgoing and energetic and easily able to reach out to other children, but in fact it is harder for them to maintain friendships.
Whether children have ADD or ADHD, they are often emotionally immature. Their classmates could be years ahead of them emotionally, making it hard for children with ADHD to relate and connect with children their own age.
Some research has shown that children with ADHD, especially those that have emotional outbursts or have aggressive tendencies, have trouble getting along with their peers. Many children with ADHD feel “different” and feel as if they do not fit in. They can feel isolated. In school, if their classmates or teachers single out children with ADHD, they may be humiliated or embarrassed.
Children with ADHD do tend to do better in small, structured environments. Clubs such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or extracurricular classes in art, music, martial arts or sports often work well. These activities often provide structure and consistent monitoring, giving children an opportunity to interact with other children in a supervised setting
Emotional Problems
Emotional maturity in individuals continues to develop until around the age of 35. This process can be slower in people with ADHD, and they may not reach the level of emotional maturity of a 21 year old until they are in their late 20s or early 30s. For children with ADHD, their emotional maturity level may be well below that of their non-ADD counterparts.
Individuals with ADHD also suffer from low self-esteem. Years of struggling in school or not feeling adequate add to these feelings. Adults, especially those that were not diagnosed or did not receive treatment in childhood, often bring the feelings of low self-worth into their adult years.
In addition, ADHD has a high incident rate of co-existing conditions. Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and learning disabilities are commonly found along with ADHD. These conditions can make it more difficult to accurately diagnose and treat individuals.
