Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) experience various specific difficulties with figurative comprehension, like reaching the intended meaning of metaphors and non-literal language in general (Segal et al 2015). Significant pragmatic and social difficulties, which usually lead to functional problems, are among the most common difficulties experienced by individuals with ADHD, which is one of the most frequently diagnosed disorders in children. However, in many cases the diagnosis is not provided until adulthood. Diagnosing adults with ADHD faces different obstacles due to numerous factors, such as educational or under-resourced familial environment, high intelligence compensating for stress-inducing difficulties and additional comorbidities. Undiagnosed children and adolescents with ADHD may become undiagnosed adults with ADHD, who miss out on the early treatment and may experience significant social and pragmatic difficulties, leading to functional problems which subsequently affect their lifestyle, education and occupational functioning.
The proposed study presents a cost-effective and unique consideration of the pragmatic aspect among adults with ADHD. It provides a systematic and standardized evaluation of the pragmatic level in adults with ADHD, based on a comprehensive approach introduced by Arcara & Bambini (2016) for the assessment of pragmatic abilities in neuro-typical individuals. This assessment tool can help not only identify the pragmatic difficulties in the ADHD population but also advance effective intervention programs that are specifically focused on pragmatic skills, thus, helping the individuals with pragmatic disorders to improve their social skills for a more successful integration in their academic studies and at their workplaces.

Authors:
Elena Even-Simkin, Bar-Ilan University, Israel

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Elena Even-Simkin is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at SCE Sami Shamoon College of Engineering; Bar-Ilan University in Israel

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

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