Why Attention Matters in Reading Intervention
Many children with dyslexia also have attention differences. Research shows that dyslexia and ADHD often occur together — about 40% of children with dyslexia also have ADHD. When both are present, learning to read can take longer because attention and working memory affect how well a child can practice, store, and retrieve new skills.
THE GOOD NEWS
Evidence-based reading interventions work for children with dyslexia, even when ADHD is present.
But children with untreated ADHD symptoms often make slower or less consistent progress because their brains have to work harder to stay focused and remember what they’ve learned.
Dyslexia Therapy:
builds the skills
ADHD Support:
helps your child’s brain make
the most of that teaching
WHAT RESEARCH SAYS
- Intensive phonics-based instruction improves reading in children with dyslexia and ADHD.
- Inattention and working memory difficulties will make progress slower if untreated.
- ADHD treatment (behavioral support, school accommodations, or medication) does not replace reading instruction, but it can help children benefit more from it.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR CHILD
- We are committed to teaching your child with proven dyslexia therapy.
- When attention difficulties get in the way, your child may need more repetition or re-teaching, which slows progress.
- Addressing ADHD symptoms can make learning smoother and help your child progress faster.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT
- Talk to your pediatrician about an ADHD evaluation.
- Ask the school about academic accommodations (504 Plan/IEP).
- Support strong routines at home: consistent sleep, homework time, and reduced distractions.
- Consider ADHD treatments recommended by professionals (behavioral strategies, parent coaching, school supports, and sometimes medication).
KEY STUDIES & THEIR CITATIONS
FINDING: Dyslexia and ADHD often co-occur, and share genetic / neurobiological / working memory / executive function overlap Citation(s):
- Turker, S., et al. “Cognitive and Behavioural Weaknesses in Children with RD, ADHD, and Comorbidity” (2019) — shows comorbidity & shared cognitive traits.
- McGrath, L. M., et al. “Shared Neural Correlates between Dyslexia and ADHD” (2019).
- Ciulkinytė A., Luciano M., et al. “Genetic neurodevelopmental clustering and dyslexia” (2024) in Molecular Psychiatry — identifies 174 genes shared between dyslexia & ADHD. University of Edinburgh+2Nature+2
FINDING: Reading interventions are effective for children with dyslexia and ADHD Citation(s):
- Chan, E. S. M., et al. Are Reading Interventions Effective for At-Risk Readers with ADHD? (2022).
- Denton, Tamm, et al. The Effects of ADHD Treatment and Reading Intervention … (2018) — a randomized clinical trial.
FINDING: ADHD symptoms (inattention, working memory, executive functioning) correlate with slower/ poorer response to reading interventions if untreated Citation(s):
- Stewart, A. A., & Austin, M. “Reading Interventions for Students With or At Risk of Attention Problems / ADHD” (2020).
- Turker, et al., 2019.
- Denton, Tamm, et al., 2018.
FINDING: ADHD treatment (behavioral, accommodations, sometimes medication) doesn’t replace reading instruction but helps children benefit more from it Citation(s):
- Denton, Tamm, et al., The Effects of ADHD Treatment and Reading Intervention … (2018).
- Chan, E. S. M., et al., Are Reading Interventions Effective for At-Risk Readers with ADHD? (2022).
NEW SOURCE: Shared Genes Between Dyslexia & ADHD
- A study from the University of Edinburgh, published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2024, found that dyslexia and ADHD share 174 genes and 49 genetic regions. Of those, 121 genes had not been previously identified in GWAS for either condition. University of Edinburgh+1
- The study analyzed public genetic datasets including dyslexia data from approximately 1 million people (in collaboration with 23andMe) and psychiatric/genetic trait data from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. University of Edinburgh
Aspire Academy Central Iowa Educational Excellence
Heidi Stoffel, Executive Director
6701 Douglas Ave., Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 978-4312
[email protected]
aspireiowa.com
Aspire Academy Central Iowa Educational Excellence
Katie Redington, Administrator
Roshek Building, Suite 195
700 Locust St., Dubuque, IA 52001
(515) 249–8286
[email protected]