ADHD & Learning: Why our 5 senses are the key to success
Increase concentration, remember better, and learn more easily! Learn how your child (or yourself, of course) can maximize their potential through multisensory methods.
What is multisensory learning ? Here's the short answer: Learning the way babies and toddlers naturally do. Using all five senses they possess. And: These little ones learn the fastest.
(Longer) definition and principles
Multisensory learning means using several senses simultaneously during learning. Ideally, all of them. This means that the nose and mouth can also be involved, depending on the learning content (e.g., science lessons!). Or in the case of German/foreign languages: a new word can be not only read but also heard, written down at the same time, or associated with a specific smell or taste. This helps to store information much better and retain it in the memory longer.
Why is this so important?
When multiple senses are addressed simultaneously, our brain simply processes information much more efficiently. After all, this is precisely why we were equipped with all of our senses. Multisensory learning is especially important for people with ADHD , as they are easily distracted by boringly presented learning content.
Advantages over traditional learning
- Promotes concentration and attention
- Information stays in memory longer
- Varied methods increase motivation
- Distractions have less impact on the learning process
Traditional learning methods such as classroom instruction are often less effective . This applies across the board—not just to those with ADHD.
Learning with ADHD: Challenges and Strengths
The brains of people with ADHD work differently. The neurotransmitter dopamine plays a key role in concentration. Because people with ADHD often have less dopamine available in their synapses in everyday life, they find it more difficult to focus on one thing.
At least, they're more likely to focus on something that was just presented to them. However, they can be passionate about something they consider vital, very urgent, or extremely interesting—and can do so for hours (the dopamine system is therefore much more selective in neurotypical people).
Strengths of people with ADHD
- High creativity and inventiveness
- Ability to hyperfocus on interesting topics
- Networked thinking and innovative solutions
- Divergent thinking ("thinking outside the box or around the corner")
Which senses can be combined?
Seeing: Colors, pictures and diagrams help to organize information
Listening: Audiobooks, music or rhymes support remembering
Feeling: Writing, modeling or puzzling makes understanding easier
Movement: Learning through walking, role-playing or imitation
Examples of multisensory learning with ADHD
Visual learning: use of colors, mind maps and videos
Auditory learning: Reading texts aloud, listening to learning songs or podcasts
Haptic learning: tracing letters or numbers with your fingers
Moving learning: internalizing learning content through gestures or movement
What does science say about this?
Simultaneous activation of multiple senses promotes the release of dopamine, which in turn leads to concentration, endurance, and long-term motivation.
Read more in this EU study on the topic
The same applies to exercise, for example, if you want to think clearly and come up with a good idea (go for a walk!).
Why does this work particularly well for ADHD?
People with ADHD are particularly sensitive to stimuli. When they use multiple senses simultaneously—that is, when they use pleasant stimuli for learning (sounds, favorite colors, etc.)—it's much easier for them to focus on the essentials and block out distractions.
Conclusion: Helpful for those with ADHD. Useful and effective for everyone.
Multisensory learning is an effective strategy, especially for people with ADHD, to improve concentration and retain information long-term. Schools and workplaces in general benefit from this approach because, at its core, it's the most "humane educational approach" of all.
We learned with multiple senses nonstop from at least the age of 0-6. This is the most formative period for our brains. This is how we learned to walk, talk, eat and drink...yes, even learned to learn.
With a little practice, everyone can integrate multisensory learning into their everyday life and thus make learning more effective - but above all, more exciting!