adhd and bilingualism | ADHD Information

What do you think about bilingualism and adhd?

I live in a Spanish speaking country. My son, who is six and has adhd, attends a bilingual school (Spanish/English) since he was four. Next year he will enter primary school (that is 1st grade). In his school's daily routine they split the day and the kids have half day in Spanish and the other half of exclusively spoken English. Obviously, for my son, English has been a struggle, I remember a day that his English teacher told me that he was kind of blocked in English class, he couldn't obey to very simple and everyday commands as "sit down or come here". Of course, I have thought, since my son was diagnosed, if this is his ideal school. He started adhd treatment about three months ago, and seems to be getting a little better in English. My concern is that it is very difficult for him to understand that pronunciation of words in English is not exactly the same when you go and write the words as it is in Spanish, so I am noticing that he is starting to grow very confused.
Do some of you have experiences with adhd kids learning a second language?
I don't know how to proceed in this issue since I consider that English is crucial for his futureI grew up trilingual....! And I had no problems with it, I think that ADHD children in this way are like other children! Some takes languages easy, others don't! I spoke norwegian with my mother, italian with my father and when both of them were around we spoke english.... And I did until I was approx 5 years old! Maybe the problems isn't related to an language problem? Maybe its just ADHD hitting back? I would not respond in any language if I wasn't "interested", but they could ask me in any of the 3 languages if I wanted icecream or go to the fair and I would reply without any problem ;)

[QUOTE=Mariaven]What do you think about bilingualism and adhd?

I live in a Spanish speaking country. My son, who is six and has adhd, attends a bilingual school (Spanish/English) since he was four. Next year he will enter primary school (that is 1st grade). In his school's daily routine they split the day and the kids have half day in Spanish and the other half of exclusively spoken English. Obviously, for my son, English has been a struggle, I remember a day that his English teacher told me that he was kind of blocked in English class, he couldn't obey to very simple and everyday commands as "sit down or come here". Of course, I have thought, since my son was diagnosed, if this is his ideal school. He started adhd treatment about three months ago, and seems to be getting a little better in English. My concern is that it is very difficult for him to understand that pronunciation of words in English is not exactly the same when you go and write the words as it is in Spanish, so I am noticing that he is starting to grow very confused.
Do some of you have experiences with adhd kids learning a second language?
I don't know how to proceed in this issue since I consider that English is crucial for his future[/QUOTE]

I am from El Salvador and live in Miami, I have 6 year old son with adhd he is in kindergarten and at home he hears spanish all the time and at school he hears english all the time.  At his school they did a test to see if he understood what was english and what was spanish and he did really good, but they told that ADHD sometimes is dificult to handle two languages.

Talk to your school maybe they can test him or something.

 

Thanks for your answers!!

Numeca, I understand what you mean, the problem is that my situation is different than yours because even if his English classes are given in an English environment, he has Spanish all around with his classmates, during recess, etc.  Before writing this post I was kind of dumb  because I didn't stop to think that most of the members from this site live in the United States or other English speaking countries. Anyway, I have already spoken with school and they know about my son's adhd; gladly they have shown to be very supportive and I really feel confident in regard to school. My concern is that I don't want to cause an English trauma to my little one. Since he started treatment I have seen some progress (little by little......),there are good days as well as bad days. Let's see what happens.

Thanks for your time and your help!!!

My 9 year old goes to a similar school, but is also a performing arts school.  The added challenge of a second language and the focus it takes to play her viola, clarinet and perform on stage has really helped her learn to concentrate.   Spanish is the most difficult for her, but it also holds her attention more than her classes taught in English. 

I truely believe that this kind of school has kept her off meds the last two years. 

That sounds like a wonderful school.  In the area I live I don't have that option; the school my son attends is famous for its bilingualism, so they are really demanding in this area. They are also a strong sports school, and the best one is soccer, but my son doesn't enjoy very active sports, he is doing karate do (out of school) which is aimed to help his concentration. Let's see what happens. I hope one day I can have my son out of meds just like you.

My dd is in Spanish Immersion school - 1/2 day in English and 1/2 day in Spanish.  She started before we knew she had ADHD.  She does not like it, but is doing well nonetheless.  However, spoken language has always been something that she is good at.  That is why I felt that the Spanish school might be good for her. 

She has just started her ADHD treatment.  I don't know if that will make a difference or not.  I think that her anxiety problems are more of a hindrance than the ADHD.

Fortunately, both of her teachers are supportive and accommodate her needs.  That makes a big difference.

From what you've described, I might opt out of the English school.  I value foreign language, but it sounds like the frustration level might be too much for your son.   

This is a great question.

We are having the same issue. My ds' school is the only French Immersion school in our area but we were sort of discouraged from putting our ds in that stream as they say it is really demanding.  He watches Dora all of the time and counts in Spanish and I've taught him a bit in French which he seemed to pick up really quickly.

I am going to revisit this option as I think it depends on the individual and not the ADHD on whether a kid can handle bilingualism.  I would note that one of his schoolmates who is not ADHD was asked to withdraw from the French Immersion program after a week...

My dd is 9, and is multi lingual, i speak a mixture of french(cajun) and english to my kids, and have since birth. DD's best friend is Russian, and also speaks Polish and German. in 2 years time the friend has taught dd 3 languages, and dd has taught her english and cajun french. ( cajun french is not like regular french and is as difficult to learn as navajo). Sometimes kids pick up on languages, and sometimes they don't.I don't think ADHD has any nput.