Social Skill Deficits in Children with ADHD and/or Asperger’s Syndrome
Children with ADHD often have social skill deficits that contribute to difficulties in relationships with peers and adults. Inattention and impulsivity interfere with a child’s ability to accurately identify, imitate, and model appropriate social behavior. For children with Asperger’s Syndrome, inattention and impulsivity may or may not be present. For these children social skill deficits define the condition. Similar to children with ADHD, children with Asperger experience impairments in social interaction and communication. Children may have both ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome, or they may have characteristics of one disorder, but not the other.
One of the consequences of poor social skills is low self-esteem. Children with ADHD and/or Asperger’s Syndrome who are criticized by teachers and/or parents for their inappropriate behaviors may come to perceive themselves in a negative way. They may begin to believe that they are incapable of ever succeeding in relationships. Studies suggest that children with predominantly inattentive type ADHD are more susceptible to low self-esteem, social isolation and feelings of rejection. Such feelings are especially intense for many inattentive girls.
A child who is primarily inattentive may be shy and remain on the edge of the social circle, never knowing quite how to become part of the group. At other times, an inattentive child may appear disinterested in developing relationships with other children because she is hyper-focused on an activity and has little awareness of the children around her. If a child’s head is buried in a book or video game and doesn’t look up when his peer says, “Hello,” he can be labeled as “rude,” “weird,” or “anti-social.”
Children with ADHD who are more hyperactive and impulsive often show other types of social problems. For example, they may stand too close to another child, be verbally aggressive, or intrude inappropriately into the social interactions of other children. In contrast to inattentive children, who may be socially “neglected,” hyperactive/impulsive children are often socially “rejected” — that is, their peers may actively avoid interacting with them due to their loud, aggressive, inappropriate or immature behavior.
Good relationships require good communication skills that involve the coordination of many verbal and nonverbal behaviors. Making eye contact, maintaining appropriate eye contact, regulating the volume of one’s voice, using gestures appropriately, and maintaining appropriate physical distance from others are just some of the nonverbal behaviors inherent in good communication. Inattention prevents them from attending long enough to notice and interpret facial expressions and pragmatics of language.
If you are concerned about your child’s social skills and would like to know more about how we help children and their parents, contact the Chesapeake ADHD Center at (301) 562-8448