Is ADHD a Mental Illness or a Learning Disability?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common condition that can affect an individual’s ability to learn, but it is not a learning disorder. There is a complex distinction between both which we will break down for you.

ADHD is a mental health challenge that can cause problems such as difficulty in focussing, impulsivity and hyperactivity - all crucial aspects of learning. This is a big reason why many people inaccurately think of ADHD as a learning disorder. 

But these symptoms are not enough to diagnose learning disorders. Learning disorders are marked dysfunctions in any aspect of learning, such as reading, writing, or mathematics. People with ADHD may not have any problems with any of these areas of learning. 

Why is ADHD considered a mental health disorder?

Learning disorders and mental health disorders have many significant differences. Here are the major factors that distinguish ADHD from learning disorders: 

• One of the major differences between ADHD and learning disorder is that ADHD can be managed very well with medication support and therapy from trained specialists. On the other hand, there are different coping mechanisms for learning disorders that might not require any medication. 

• Learning disabilities tend to affect specific aspects of learning. For instance, someone with dyscalculia will have difficulty with concepts related to numbers. On the other hand, a person with ADHD has difficulty with concentration, and they may not necessarily have any problems with learning. 

How does ADHD affect learning? 

Although ADHD is not classified as a learning disability, it does have a significant impact on the way a person learns, retains information and reproduces it. This is because symptoms of ADHD can not only interfere with learning but also affect many other aspects of life. Often these symptoms  can manifest in ways that do not immediately point to ADHD. This is why it is critical to seek advice from trained mental health professionals. Although, the best treatment for ADHD can be recommended only after a formal diagnosis which is done by a psychiatrist. . 

ADHD can affect learning in the following ways:

• Executive function impairment - Executive functioning skills are mental skills that enable us to plan, focus, remember instructions and multitask. People with ADHD tend to have a marked impairment in executive function. 

• Hyperactivity: People with ADHD tend to move constantly, even in situations where it might be considered inappropriate. This may look like constant foot tapping or fidgeting. 

• Having difficulty paying attention

• Disorganisation

• Impulsivity

• Failure to pay attention to detail

Can someone with ADHD have a learning disorder? 

Yes, people with ADHD can have learning disorders. In fact, studies have found that almost 30-50% of people with ADHD have a co-occuring learning disability as well. These two can interact with each other affecting many crucial areas of functioning to make life very challenging

Another crucial effect of ADHD is on the working memory. Working memory helps us store information temporarily. It is used in situations like listening to instructions. These are all very crucial aspects of learning, which is the reason why people often confuse ADHD for a learning disability even though it is not. When someone has both ADHD and a learning disorder, they will have difficulty with executive functioning along with problems in specific aspects of learning, such as maths, reading or writing. 

It is important to remember that both ADHD and learning disorders can be managed well with psychiatric care and therapy. People with both ADHD and learning disorders can live completely functional lives, and achieve all their goals. It can be overwhelming, but reaching out when you need help is the only way forward to getting better, feeling better and staying better.