ADHD Impact on School Performance

Plain-language summary

Research suggests that children with ADHD often face challenges in academic settings, but various non-pharmacological approaches, including behavioral interventions, can positively influence their academic outcomes. While some studies explore specific exercise programs to enhance executive functions, evidence for certain dietary supplements, like omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation, is still inconclusive regarding their impact on child neurodevelopment and academic success.

Key findings

• Behavioral interventions are a non-pharmacological option that research suggests can improve academic outcomes for children with ADHD.
• Concentrative coordination exercises may help enhance executive functions and handwriting skills in children with ADHD, which could indirectly support academic performance.
• The impact of omega-3 fatty acid supplements consumed during pregnancy and lactation on a child's neurodevelopment is not clearly established by current research.
• Non-pharmacological and behavioral management strategies are important considerations for supporting children and adolescents with ADHD in their academic lives.

Studies cited (8)

1. Behavioral interventions in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials across multiple outcome domains — Daley D, van der Oord S, Ferrin M (2014, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, meta-analysis)

   DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2014.05.013

2. Omega-3 Fatty Acid Dietary Supplements Consumed During Pregnancy and Lactation and Child Neurodevelopment: A Systematic Review — Nevins JEH, Donovan SM, Snetselaar L (2021, The Journal of nutrition, systematic-review)

   DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxab238 PMCID: PMC8764572

3. Enhancing Executive Functions and Handwriting with a Concentrative Coordination Exercise in Children with ADHD: A Randomized Clinical Trial — Chang SH, Shie JJ, Yu NY (2022, Perceptual and motor skills, rct)

   DOI: 10.1177/00315125221098324

4. ADHD in children and adolescents: Review of current practice of non-pharmacological and behavioural management — Ogundele MO, Ayyash HF (2023, AIMS public health, review)

   DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2023004 PMCID: PMC10091126

5. Current Pharmacological Treatments for ADHD — Groom MJ, Cortese S (2022, Current topics in behavioral neurosciences, other)

   DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_330

6. Screen time and early adolescent mental health, academic, and social outcomes in 9- and 10- year old children: Utilizing the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development ℠ (ABCD) Study — Paulich KN, Ross JM, Lessem JM (2021, PloS one, other)

   DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256591 PMCID: PMC8425530

7. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, School Performance, and Effect of Medication — Jangmo A, Stålhandske A, Chang Z (2019, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, other)

   DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.11.014 PMCID: PMC6541488

8. Sensory processing and classroom emotional, behavioral, and educational outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder — Ashburner J, Ziviani J, Rodger S (2008, The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, other)

   DOI: 10.5014/ajot.62.5.564