Does ADHD affect children's learning and social interaction? ——Dual solution of scientific medication + behavior management

March 3, 2025

1. How does ADHD affect children’s learning and social interaction?

1.1 Learning difficulties in children with ADHD : more than just “ not being able to sit still ”

Children with ADHD often have difficulty concentrating, poor task execution, and difficulty in time management during the learning process, which makes it difficult for them to achieve ideal results even if they study hard. Common manifestations include:

• Homework is always delayed and missed , and requires constant reminders to barely complete it.

• It is difficult to concentrate in class , and students are easily distracted, make small movements, and even disrupt class order.

• Difficulty maintaining consistent performance on exams , and even after reviewing, still loses marks due to carelessness or lack of concentration.

• It is difficult to plan study tasks and I don’t know how to arrange review time effectively.

These problems are not caused by children being “ lazy ” or “ deliberately making trouble ” , but rather because the prefrontal cortex of children with ADHD develops more slowly , which affects their executive functions and attention regulation abilities ( Shaw et al., 2007 ).

1.2 How does ADHD affect children’s social development?

In addition to academic challenges, children with ADHD may also encounter misunderstanding and rejection in social situations. The main reasons include:

• Impulsive behavior : Difficulty controlling one’s behavior in games or conversations, prone to interrupting others, interrupting others, or even saying hurtful things on impulse.

• Difficulty following social rules : For example, not wanting to take turns in a game or being too impatient, which prevents friends from playing together.

• Difficulty regulating emotions : When encountering setbacks, you may suddenly become angry, cry, or even quarrel with friends over trivial matters.

• Poor ability to interpret social signals : It is difficult to detect the other person’s emotional changes, resulting in the appearance of “ not being able to read the other person’s expressions ” during communication.

In the long run, these problems may cause ADHD children to be excluded by their peers, lack friends , and even form a vicious cycle of low self-esteem, anxiety, or social avoidance ( Biederman et al., 2008 ).

2. Dual intervention program for ADHD : scientific medication + behavioral management

Studies have shown that medication combined with behavioral management can effectively improve the learning ability and social skills of children with ADHD ( Michelson et al., 2002 ).

2.1 Behavior management: Help children develop better learning and social habits

( 1 ) Learn management skills

• Use task decomposition : break down large tasks into small steps, such as completing 5 math problems every day instead of completing the entire test paper at once.

• Set a timed learning mode : Use the " Pomodoro " method (focus for 25 minutes, rest for 5 minutes) to help children concentrate better in a short period of time.

• Use visual reminders : Post a “ homework checklist ” on your child’s desk or use a timer to help your child master time management.

• Positive reinforcement : Encourage children to develop good study habits through reward mechanisms (such as playing a 10- minute game after completing a task).

( 2 ) Social skills training

• Role-playing exercises : Practice common social situations with your children, such as how to greet people politely, how to take turns speaking, etc.

• Establish social rules : For example, " wait until others finish speaking before expressing your own ideas. "

• Encourage children to participate in team activities : such as sports teams, interest groups, etc., to help them learn cooperation and interaction in real situations.

• Train emotional regulation : Use the “ pause - deep breath - express ” method to help children calm down when they are angry and then communicate with their friends.

3. Scientific medication for ADHD : How to help children learn and socialize better?

For children with more severe ADHD symptoms, medications can provide additional help , allowing them to better focus on learning and better control impulsive behavior in social interactions.

3.1 Mechanism of action of Zestar

Xestrazoxane is a non-stimulant ADHD treatment that helps the brain enhance concentration, executive function, and emotional stability by regulating norepinephrine ( Michelson et al., 2002 ).

3.2 How does CESTAR help children with ADHD ?

• Improve concentration : Help children focus more in class, reduce distractions, and improve learning efficiency.

• Improve task completion : Reduce procrastination and forgetfulness, and improve completion of homework and exams.

• Reduce impulsive behavior : Help children better control their words and actions in social interactions, reducing misunderstandings and conflicts.

• Improve emotional regulation : reduce emotional outbursts caused by frustration and improve social adaptability.

3.3 Precautions for use

• The onset of effect is long , and it usually takes 2-4 weeks to see significant results ( Kelsey et al., 2004 ).

• There may be minor side effects , such as decreased appetite and mild drowsiness , but these generally subside over time.

• It is suitable for long-term use, but requires doctor's evaluation and adjustment of dosage according to the child's specific situation.

Studies have shown that children with ADHD who take Cialis for a long time show significant improvements in academic performance, classroom performance, and social interaction ( Weisler et al., 2006 ).

4. Double intervention to help ADHD children grow better

ADHD not only affects children's learning, but also their social skills, leading to long-term academic difficulties, social barriers and emotional distress . The dual solution of scientific behavior management + scientific medication can help children with ADHD improve their learning concentration, improve task execution, reduce impulsive behavior, and enhance social interaction . For children with mild ADHD , parents can improve their children's performance through behavioral training, learning management and social skills training ; for children with more severe symptoms, combined with scientific medications such as Cistar, attention and self-control can be further enhanced . Only by scientifically understanding and managing ADHD can children have a more stable learning rhythm, healthier social relationships, and build stronger self-confidence, laying a good foundation for future development.