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Children's ADHD Intervention Team

ADHD & Friendships
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ADHD & Friendships

People with ADHD are seen as lively, adventurous, and fun. They often bring others into the moment. But ADHD can sometimes make it hard to maintain friendships. Hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattentiveness can make it hard to communicate and build lasting friendships.

People with ADHD often have great qualities in relationships:

  • They’re outgoing, social, funny, and great at making others feel welcome.
  • They’re fun, easy to talk to, good at making friends, and open-minded.
  • They’re lively, energetic, and quick to adapt.
  • They’re resilient, creative, clever, and quick-witted.
  • They can hyper-focus on tasks and on others.

Sometimes they can struggle with:

  • Dependency on others for planning, organising, and reminding tasks.
  • Being impulsive, often angry, and easily losing patience can cause fights and regrettable actions.
  • Struggling to control strong feelings and sudden shifts in mood can cause issues living with others.
  • Being very active and restless can make it hard to relax and be still when needed.
  • Easily getting distracted, like losing focus in conversations or ignoring someone.
  • Having trouble with communication, such as talking too much, not waiting to speak, and constantly interrupting.
  • Struggling with managing time, staying organized, and remembering things like appointments, special events, and keeping in touch

Tips for building and maintaining relationships

Social situations

Keep social situations short and sweet. Invite friends to play but keep playtimes short so your child does not lose self-control. Do not aim to do this when your child is feeling tired or hungry, such as after a day at school.

Plan activities in advance

For younger children

  • Put away any toys that your child would not want to share
  • Plan activities that leave little unstructured time or include going to a play area
  • Have built in snack breaks
  • Limit the time of the get-together
  • Limit the amount of people

For older children

  • Try and focus on promoting a skill in the run up to the activity, such as cooperation or sharing e.g. ‘letting other people enjoy the activity too’ or ‘remember to let other people have a go’
  • Stay within earshot but allow some independence
  • Structure activities that are more age appropriate but still leave little unstructured time
  • Consider active activities such as a trampoline park, or somewhere your child can expel excess energy
  • Have a debrief afterwards and ask how they found it and give some specific positive praise

Contact information

Address and locations

West End
2062-2068 Hessle Road
Hessle
HU13 9NW

Please see our ‘Locations’ page for more information.

Opening hours: 09.00-17:00 Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).

Phone Numbers
ADHD Intervention Team 01482 692929

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“ The professionalism in which you have all handles this has astonished us, not once have we felt awkward asking questions that are probably really simple to you guys but like rocket science to use, you have been amazing every step of the way and so patient and kind explaining every detail we didn't quite understand. ”

“ You are amazing and the work you do is incredible and makes such a difference to families like us. ”

“ Thank you for providing a professional and thorough assessment. ”

“ We as a family are also absolutely thrilled with the timely manner that you have handled our case, the journey for answers has been a very long and scenic route.. and I'm thrilled to bits you were a part of it. ”

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