Why Is It So Hard for My Child with ADHD to Understand Their Lessons?

When Lessons Don’t Seem to Stick

It’s 5:30 p.m. Homework has been on the table for an hour, and your child still doesn’t seem to remember what was taught in class. They’ve read the paragraph three times. You’ve explained the math problem twice. And yet, their eyes wander to anything but the page, and frustration boils on both sides.

If this scene feels familiar, you’re not alone—and neither is your child. When your child has ADHD, it’s not just about focus. It’s also about how they process, understand, and retain information. Let’s explore what’s really happening under the surface, and how we, as parents, can gently adapt to help them learn more meaningfully.

Three Layers Behind the Struggle to Understand

Understanding a lesson isn’t just about intelligence or effort. It’s a process involving attention, working memory, and context.

1. The Challenge of Sustained Attention

Children with ADHD often struggle with what experts call "sustained attention"—the mental stamina to remain engaged over time. Picture your child’s brain like a radio flipping between stations. So even though they’re looking at the page, their attention may be elsewhere. This makes it hard not only to grasp the lesson—but even to start engaging with it in the first place.

2. Memory Processing Is Different

ADHD often comes with a weaker working memory. That’s the brain’s notepad, holding information short-term to make sense of it. If the notepad fills quickly or info slips off before it ‘clicks,’ your child may seem like they “didn’t listen” or “wasn't paying attention”—when in reality, their memory just didn’t have enough time or space to store the information meaningfully.

3. Abstract Lessons Feel Empty Without Context

Kids with ADHD are often concrete thinkers. Telling them “here’s how decimals work” doesn’t mean much unless it’s connected to something real—like splitting a pizza or calculating change at a store. Without a story or context, the lesson stays abstract and slippery.

So how can we help?

It’s Not About Teaching Harder—It's About Teaching Differently

One exhausted parent once shared with me, “I felt like I had to become a teacher, therapist, and detective rolled into one.” And in a way, she wasn’t wrong. But the magic didn’t come from working harder. It came from shifting how her child received information.

If your child isn’t understanding their lessons, try asking: How is the information being delivered? Not all kids absorb knowledge by sitting and reading or listening to long explanations. Especially for kids with ADHD, the way the content is presented matters immensely.

Storytelling, Movement & Multisensory Learning

Think back: How often did you learn something as a child because someone told you a story, not because of a worksheet?

Children with ADHD can thrive when information is brought to them visually, physically, or through imaginative storytelling. For example, one mom I know started reading multiplication tables using jungle-themed stories. "Every time we got to the number 8, it was this mischievous monkey who doubled everything he saw!" Her son remembered more from that one week than he did the entire previous month.

Today, learning tools can support this approach more easily than ever. Some apps—including Skuli, available on iOS and Android—can transform a child’s written lesson into an audio adventure where they're the hero of the story. Hearing “You, Max, just landed in Fractionland where all numbers are split!” turns passive learning into active imagination, especially powerful for neurodiverse brains.

Make Learning Fit into Your Child’s Life, Not the Other Way Around

Many kids with ADHD benefit from hearing comprehension explained aloud—even in the car, before bed, or while doodling. Simply converting a written lesson into audio can make a big difference. You might be surprised how your child absorbs more while bouncing a ball in the yard or riding in the backseat than when sitting at a desk.

Movement isn’t a distraction—it can be a learning ally. Alternative learning methods like this aren’t a last resort—they’re often the most efficient pathway to long-term understanding.

Repetition That Doesn’t Feel Like Repeating

Your child may need more repetition than their peers—but they also need it in different ways. Instead of repeating the same explanation three times, break up the input:

• Turn a photo of the lesson into a short quiz and let them quiz themselves after dinner.
• Ask them to teach part of the lesson back to you (kids remember what they “teach” better than what they’re taught).
• Use audio, visuals, and simple games to increase engagement. See these recommended educational games.

This isn’t about lowering expectations. It’s about modifying the method so your child can rise to meet them.

Helping the Whole Child, Not Just the Student

If you’ve reached the point where you’re more worried about school stress than school success, it might be time to zoom out. Calm-down activities like drawing, drumming, or nature walks can ground your child’s nervous system before learning even begins. Regulated nervous systems absorb information more deeply. Your child’s emotional state isn’t separate from their academic one.

Also, if school is the consistent source of meltdown or tears, it’s okay to ask for help. Start with teachers, school counselors—even search support in communities. If you feel like you’re shouting in the wind, read this heartfelt piece: "My child has ADHD and is failing at school – what can I really do to help?"

From Confusion to Confidence

Understanding a lesson is not just about being smart—it’s about being taught in the right way, at the right pace, in a format the brain can absorb. For kids with ADHD, that often means fewer lectures and more stories. Less sitting still—and more movement, imagination, and flexibility. With the right tools and compassionate understanding, you’re not only helping them learn—you’re helping them love learning again.