Where do speech language pathologists fit in ADHD care?

What is it about?

ADHD affects attention, impulse control and planning, and many children with ADHD also struggle with language, such as following conversations, taking turns, telling stories and understanding social cues. These are the skills speech pathologists (also called speech-language pathologists or speech and language therapists) work on every day. We reviewed research and national ADHD guidelines from Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, the UK and Ireland to see what role speech pathologists are expected to play. We found that research and guidelines often describe ADHD care teams without mentioning speech pathologists, that most of the evidence is about children rather than adults, and that no guideline clearly spells out what a speech pathologist should do for someone with ADHD.

Why is it important?

ADHD is one of the most common childhood conditions, yet many people struggle to get timely support. Children whose main diagnosis is ADHD are rarely referred to speech pathologists, so language and social communication difficulties can go unnoticed because they look like behaviour problems. Without clear guidance on the speech pathologist’s role, doctors, teachers and families may not know when to refer, and clinicians may not feel confident working with ADHD. Our findings point to the need for guidelines that define each team member’s role, more research on adults, and better training and resources for speech pathologists. Because the review draws on six countries that recognise each other’s speech pathology qualifications, it offers a shared starting point for professional bodies to work from.