Research shows that children with ADHD are more likely to struggle with motor skills

ADHD is typically associated with symptoms such as impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and problems with focus. Only one recent overview of studies strengthens our understanding that children with ADHD can also have difficulty with motor skills. These are the skills that allow people to move, control and coordinate movements in the body.

Understood tells you what you need to know and how you can help your child.

What the study found about children and ADHD

This review of studies was published in September in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. It reviewed 25 studies involving children with ADHD and children without ADHD.

Combined, the 25 studies included more than 2,000 children between the ages of 5 and 14. Almost half of the children had ADHD, the rest did not. It is the first time that a review compares the motor skills of children with ADHD with neurotypical children. This comparison allows us to better understand the unmet needs of children with ADHD.

When researchers reviewed all the studies, they found that children with ADHD were likely to have lower motor competence than their neurotypical peers. Motor competence is the ability to perform various motor skills effectively and efficiently.

The researchers found that children with ADHD had particular difficulty with certain motor skills. These include:

• Fine Motor Control: Fine motor skills using the hands and fingers to make small movements.
• Craftsmanship: Dexterity is a form of fine motor skills used for grasping and moving objects with your hands.
• Manual coordination: Likewise, manual coordination is the ability to use the hands and fingers effectively, along with hand-eye coordination.
• Body coordination: Body coordination includes gross motor skills such as running and jumping. It also includes balance, hand-eye coordination and being able to use both sides of the body together.
• Locomotor skills: These skills allow you to move your body from one place to another, such as running, jumping, or jumping.
• Throwing and catching: The ability to throw and catch involves hand-eye coordination and other motor skills.

The researchers suggest that problems with these skills may be partly due to problems with motor planning. Engine planning is a skill that requires coordinating all the steps needed to complete a physical task. Motor planning and coordination require executive function to be completed. Executive function is the brain’s ability to plan, concentrate, remember instructions, and manage tasks to achieve goals. These skills are often affected by ADHD.

Other research has done that come to similar conclusions. Researchers estimate that up to 50% of children with ADHD have motor problems.

The limitations of the study

This review adds new information to our understanding of motor skills in children with ADHD. But it’s important to keep in mind that there are limitations.

First, the 25 studies in this review were not representative of the entire ADHD community. For example, the studies reviewed included more boys than girls. ADHD manifests differently in girls than in boys. The same can apply to motor problemsmainly because boys and girls have different bodies and genetics. Boys are also more often encouraged to participate in sports than girls.

Not all studies in this review measured motor competence in the same way. The researchers explained this by grouping studies that used the same tests. But it does make it more difficult to compare the results and draw conclusions.

Many studies in this review also did not take into account other factors that could explain why children with ADHD struggle with their motor skills. For example, the studies did not take into account whether children had dysgraphiawhich makes writing difficult. Without taking these variables into account, researchers may come to wrong conclusions.

Why these results are important

Motor problems can have a significant impact on children with ADHD. The researchers in this review emphasized that children with ADHD are less likely to be physically active compared to their neurotypical peers. This is probably partly due to problems with motor skills.

Physical activity is important for overall health. But also physical activity helps improve other ADHD symptoms. It makes it easier to pay attention, resist distractions, and adjust your thinking. This also applies to the development of motor skills linked to cognitive development. Motor competence, coordination, and planning all support executive functioning and attention span.

Motor competence is also important for academic performance. Being able to hold a pencil and write legibly can affect how well a child does in school.

Children who struggle with skills such as throwing, catching, jumping and running may have difficulty with sports or other physical activities. They can end being left out or feeling like they are. This can lead to less physical activity and missed opportunities for social connection.

How to help children with ADHD develop their motor skills

If your child is struggling with their motor skills, there are things you can do to help.

1. Have your child’s motor skills tested.

Consider having your child’s motor skills assessed. Motor skills can help improve your child’s development and well-being. It is especially helpful to work on these skills early. We know that problems with motor skills can cause that continue into adulthood.

2. Get your child moving.

Encourage your child to take up sports. You can try activities such as swimming or cycling, which help with balance and coordination. These types of exercises focus on gross motor skills, which helps build the base Also for developing fine motor skills.

3. Consider medication.

Talk to your child’s doctor about medications for ADHD. Research shows that children with ADHD who use stimulants can suffer from this improvements in their motor skillsas well as their other symptoms.

4. Talk to an occupational therapist or physical therapist.

A occupational therapist can help your child work on their motor skills by completing tasks such as:

• Handwriting
• Tying shoes
• Cut with scissors
• Fastening clothes

A physical therapist can also help your child with larger movements, such as balance and jumping.

With the right support, it is possible to improve your child’s motor skills.

Summary

Children with ADHD may be about 12 times more likely than other children to have problems with motor skills. Researchers found that children with ADHD often have problems with fine motor skills, dexterity, coordination and balance. This may be caused by differences in motor planning and executive functions. The findings show how important it is to monitor the motor development of children with ADHD. Early interventions, such as physical activity, occupational therapy and medication, can help improve motor skills and development.

This story was produced by Understood and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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