Elizabeth Nilsen studies ADHD and difficulties with conversational cues

During the fall Liz Nilsen (Clinical division; cognitive development) had two studies published on her research into communication challenges for individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The finding in the studies co-authored by Dr. Nilsen suggest that people with ADHD are less able to consider the perspective of their conversational partner. One study appears in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research is focused on children. The other addresses adults and appears in the Journal of Attention Disorders.

In a recent University of Waterloo media release about the research, Dr. Nilsen commented:

Our findings are important because they allow us to think about possible remediation strategies. Social skills training programs for children with ADHD often don’t show substantial benefits when children return to their social environments, and if we have a better sense of what is causing the difficulties in communication and then target remediation at these particular skills, intervention programs may be able to achieve more beneficial outcomes.

Read the full media release.