If your child has ADHD and still finds reading, writing or maths (math) hard, this guide is for you. It explains how ADHD and learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, often come together, and what you can do at home and at school.
Many parents are told their child has ADHD and assume that explains everything. Sometimes it does. But often there is a second learning difference sitting alongside it, quietly making school harder.
Knowing this early can change the kind of help your child gets. It can also take a lot of blame off your child’s shoulders.
ADHD and learning disabilities: what do the words mean?
The words are different in the UK and the US, which can be confusing.
- In the US, “learning disability” usually means a specific difficulty with reading, writing or maths, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia.
- In the UK, these are called specific learning difficulties (SpLD). In the UK, “learning disability” means something different: a lifelong difference that affects learning new things in many areas of life.
ADHD itself is not a learning difficulty. It affects attention, activity levels and impulse control. But it has a big effect on learning, because so much of school depends on sitting still, listening and remembering.
How often does ADHD come with dyslexia and other learning difficulties?
Quite often. The NHS page on ADHD in children notes that children with ADHD may also have a learning difficulty such as dyslexia. The British Dyslexia Association explains that specific learning difficulties often co-occur or overlap.
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that even among children with ADHD who do not have a diagnosed learning disability, around 4 in 10 still have learning problems that hold back their schoolwork. Research figures for each condition vary a lot, so treat any single number with care.
Common pairings include:
- ADHD and dyslexia: difficulty with reading, spelling and linking letters to sounds.
- ADHD and dyspraxia: also called developmental coordination disorder (DCD). It affects coordination, handwriting, sport and getting dressed.
- ADHD and dyscalculia: a specific difficulty understanding numbers and quantities, such as place value and estimating.
- ADHD and speech and language difficulties: trouble understanding or using words and sentences.
Want simple ways to help with focus and learning?
Try Break It Down, Memory Helpers and Classroom Tweaks from the Mooki ADHD deck. Each is one of 56 ten-minute activities with adult steps and a child worksheet.
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Is it ADHD, dyslexia or both? Signs to look out for
ADHD and dyslexia can look alike in the classroom. A child who loses their place in a book might be distracted, or might be struggling to decode the words. Often it is a mix of both.
| What you see | Might point to ADHD | Might point to dyslexia |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Skips lines, loses interest, guesses to finish fast | Slow, effortful decoding, even when focused |
| Spelling | Careless slips on words they know | Same words spelt many ways, sound order mixed up |
| Instructions | Misses parts because attention drifts | Struggles with long spoken instructions or new words |
| When interested | Can focus well on exciting tasks | Reading is still hard, even on a favourite topic |
A useful question is: can your child do it when they are calm, interested and focused? If reading is still very hard on their best day, a learning difficulty may be part of the picture.
Other clues of a second difference include:
- Messy handwriting and struggles with buttons, ball games or cutting (possible dyspraxia).
- Big gaps between how bright they seem when talking and what they can put on paper.
- Maths facts that never seem to stick, even with lots of practice.
- A family history of reading or maths difficulties.
Try it today: a 10-minute “best day” check
This simple activity helps you see what is attention and what is learning.
- Choose a quiet moment when your child is calm and fed. Turn off screens and clear the table.
- Ask them to read a short page from a book they like, out loud, for 3 minutes. Note how many words they get stuck on.
- Next, give a short spelling or maths task for 3 minutes. Keep it at a level they “should” know.
- Finish with a 2-minute chat. Ask, “What felt easy? What felt hard?” Write down their words.
- Repeat on a busier, noisier day. If the hard bits stay hard even on the calm day, share your notes with school.
This is not a test or a diagnosis. It simply gives you clear examples to share.
Getting the right help at school
Every child with ADHD and a learning difficulty needs support for both. Help for attention alone will not fix reading, and phonics help alone will not fix focus.
In the UK
Start with your child’s class teacher and the SENCo (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child can get SEN support in school. If needs are complex, you can ask the local council for an EHC needs assessment, which may lead to an EHCP (education, health and care plan).
Your GP can refer for an ADHD assessment. Dyslexia is usually assessed by a specialist teacher or educational psychologist, often through school.
In the US
Talk to your child’s teacher and pediatrician. You can ask the school, in writing, for an evaluation. Under federal law (IDEA), public schools must evaluate and support children whose learning is affected. Support may come through an IEP (Individualized Education Program) or a 504 plan, which covers classroom changes and test adjustments.
Simple ways to help at home
- Keep tasks short. Two 10-minute bursts often beat one 30-minute slog.
- Break it down. Split homework into tiny steps, and tick each one off.
- Read to and with your child. Take turns reading pages, so they hear fluent reading without pressure.
- Use their senses. Trace letters, build words with tiles or count with real objects.
- Move between tasks. A quick jump, stretch or walk helps reset attention.
- Praise effort, not just results. “You kept going on that tricky word” builds confidence.
If you also want to learn more about dyslexia on its own, our dyslexia posts on the Mooki blog and the Mooki Dyslexia deck go into reading and spelling in much more depth.
If you’re worried, talk to your GP or paediatrician, or your child’s school.
The bottom line
ADHD and learning difficulties often travel together, and that is nobody’s fault. When you understand the full picture, you can ask for the right help for each part. With the right support, your child can learn well and feel proud of what they can do.
