Many children with attention challenges may talk constantly.  Incessant chatter may seem cute in a young child but as the child gets older it may be no longer acceptable to family and peers.  Teenagers often begin to resent an individual’s need to be in the verbal spot-light.  Some children may not watch what they say — they may blurt out whatever is on their mind — whether it is called for or not.  Other children with language and attention difficulties may appear overly reserved. They may not understand the “give-and-take” of conversation, and so they will sit quietly and let others talk.  This is especially true if the child’s challenge is in the area of expressive language.

Adults in these children’s lives must patiently teach the skills of conversation, sharing information, turn-taking, and stopping and thinking before talking.  Role-playing what happens when someone dominates the conversation is helpful to allow the child to see what others experience.  Developing these skills takes a lot of practice for some children and may require a lot of patience for their family.

© 1995, 2009-2013. monte w. davenport, ph.d.