Behaviors associated with ADHD can make social interactions difficult. But you can improve your social skills by leading by example and practicing.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder. Although the exact cause is unknown, it is a disease that affects areas of the brain responsible for key functions such as problem solving, concentration, and reaction control.
Symptoms of ADHD include the following patterns:
- hyperactivity
- impulsivity
- carelessness
- distraction
These experiences can not only affect performance in school and work, but also the ability to form and maintain interpersonal relationships.
ADHD can negatively impact how a person interacts with others, even if they have the best intentions of making friends and participating in social activities.
This social disorder is
“There are several reasons why ADHD can affect social skills,” explains Kimberly Hurley, a pediatric occupational therapist in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.
She says people living with ADHD may find it difficult to maintain focus during conversations, miss important social cues, or appear uninterested. This makes it difficult to build and maintain relationships, Hurley adds.
Tiffany Lindley, a nationally certified professional counselor supervisor in Dallas, Texas, says people with ADHD often have “time blindness,” or difficulty understanding and managing time. talk.
They can get caught up in the moment, and their focus on the present can shorten their “timeline.” This means they may be less likely to think about the future or feel connected to their future selves.
In social interactions, this “time blindness” can manifest as being chronically late or rising extremely early. You may also find yourself talking too much and not being able to naturally move on to new topics in a conversation.
Does ADHD affect social awareness?
A 2017 study found that children with ADHD are more likely to lack awareness of social and academic deficits than neurotypical children.
This study found that children with ADHD’s tendency to rate themselves more favorably than their teachers, parents, and peers impairs their development of social skills and increases their risk for poor outcomes later in life. reported that this may lead to an increase.
A 2016 study also found that children living with ADHD were more likely to have significant difficulty recognizing facial and vocal cues, another important component of social awareness.
“This can lead to misunderstandings and misunderstandings, which can make it difficult to respond appropriately in social situations,” Hurley said.
Many of the social challenges associated with ADHD can be related to impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention, which are the main characteristics of ADHD.
Social challenges associated with impulsivity and hyperactivity include:
- interrupt
- finish someone else’s writing
- speak or act without thinking
- speak excessively
- use someone’s property without permission
- invade personal space
- Participating in activities without permission or at inappropriate times
Social challenges associated with inattention include:
- not actively listening
- I get distracted in the middle of a conversation
- become time blind
- forget to call back
- not attending social events
- Leave tasks unfinished or finish them carelessly
Others’ perceptions of ADHD symptoms are not the only factor associated with social challenges.
They may also experience social challenges related to isolation and low self-esteem due to rejection, bullying, and social exclusion.
These feelings can make it difficult to connect socially with others. It can also prevent the interactions necessary for improving and developing social skills.
Social symptoms of ADHD in children
Children and adults share the same social symptoms of ADHD, just in different situations.
Lindley says children often experience rejection and the psychological distress caused by rejection and criticism. She says this can lead to perfectionism in young children.
Bullying and social exclusion can also be affected for a variety of reasons, she added. Children living with ADHD may not like to follow irrational social rules, such as hating someone just because the group doesn’t.
As a result, they may face exclusion for not conforming to society’s expectations.
“Some young people with ADHD have different interests than other young people, which can be interpreted as ‘weird,'” Lindley says. “They may excel in certain subjects or activities, which can lead to envy and jealousy among their peers.”
Social symptoms of ADHD and adults
Adults live in a very different social environment than children. They have had time to understand and perhaps adapt to the social challenges of ADHD.
Hurley says adults are more likely to experience challenges related to time management and social engagement.
As an adult, you may miss events or repeatedly be late for social gatherings or meetings. Inattention or distraction can cause you to miss important details or make it difficult to stay involved in the discussion.
“This can make it difficult to fully participate in social interactions and maintain meaningful connections,” Hurley says.
Like children, adults living with ADHD can be sensitive to rejection and experience impulses toward perfectionism.
Living with ADHD allows you to develop and learn social skills. Hurley and Lindley recommend the following:
- Understanding your social strengths and challenges will help you know what to work on.
- Reflect on your social interactions. You can use journaling to track patterns.
- Study body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, and how they relate to what is being said.
- Practice nonverbal cues on your own that show you’re listening, such as nodding your head, tilting your head, and making eye contact.
- Question your actions and social cues during interactions with your loved ones and those closest to you.
- Accept that you may not respond to social situations the same way neurotypical people do, and practice self-forgiveness and self-compassion.
As a caregiver, you can help your child navigate the complexities of forming and maintaining interpersonal relationships by:
- Help children build overall confidence and self-esteem
- Clearly communicate social expectations such as sharing, taking turns, and showing respect.
- Examples of social expectations broken down into stages
- Participate in role-play activities to demonstrate social skills in a safe environment
- Create opportunities for children to interact with their peers in fun environments such as play dates
Lindley encourages parents to take a step back and evaluate themselves and the social skills they display.
“It’s wise to have the same expectations for yourself as your child when it comes to cleanliness, punctuality, reliability, etc.,” she says.
ADHD includes symptoms such as impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. This can have a negative impact on social interactions, despite your good intentions.
Learning about social cues and practicing your own social skills can make a big difference in how you build and maintain interpersonal relationships.