Dysorthographia and ADHD: two disorders that often coexist
Dysorthographia and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, with or without hyperactivity) frequently coexist in the same child. This comorbidity creates a particularly complex clinical picture in which the difficulties compound one another. Understanding how they interact is essential for effective support.
How the two disorders influence each other
Dysorthographia and ADHD interact in a complex way. On the one hand, the attentional difficulties associated with ADHD worsen spelling difficulties: a child who struggles to sustain attention cannot effectively monitor their spelling when writing. On the other hand, dysorthographia generates a cognitive overload during writing that drains the limited attentional resources — the child cannot simultaneously monitor spelling and keep their attention on the content.
The specific manifestations of this dual difficulty
Children who have both dysorthographia and ADHD produce writing that is particularly chaotic: not only numerous spelling errors, but also disorganised content, incomplete sentences and ideas abandoned midway. Their writing reflects both their spelling difficulties and their difficulty in keeping the thread of their thinking.
Support that must address both disorders
Treating dysorthographia alone without taking ADHD into account yields limited results — and vice versa. Optimal support is multidisciplinary and coordinated: a speech and language therapist (orthophoniste) for the dysorthographia, and a child psychiatrist or paediatric neurologist for the ADHD. The two professionals should communicate and adapt their approaches to the child’s overall profile.
Accommodations that benefit both disorders
Certain school accommodations are particularly effective for children who have both dysorthographia and ADHD. Extra time during assessments, to compensate for both slowness in spelling and lapses in attention. Breaking tasks into short steps, to sustain attention and reduce cognitive overload. And a computer with a spell-checker, to reduce the spelling burden and free up attentional resources for the content.
To find out more about ADHD
For detailed information on ADHD and its support, in addition to the resources on dysorthographia available here, letdah.fr offers comprehensive and accessible resources for families and professionals who support children with this attentional disorder.
