Speech Perception and ADHD

Author: Emily Espinel

Field of Study: Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Math

Faculty Mentors: Reethee Antony

Easel: 88

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which individuals exhibit inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity thereby affecting the overall quality of life. Comprehending speech can become more difficult in the presence of background noise, specifically for individuals with ADHD. Increased difficulty may be due to the distractibility of competing stimuli, their attention deficit can make it challenging to filter out background noise. However, there is little knowledge on available literature in this area, hence the need for the scoping review. The aim of this study is to synthesize literature in the area of speech perception in individuals with ADHD. Search terms included “speech perception” and “ADHD”; 14 studies that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed and data was synthesized. The results showed that individuals with ADHD had more difficulty processing speech in noise compared to typically developing peers. This study helped in identifying the scope for future research.