The Hidden Challenge: How ADHD Can Impact Religious Observance

For those raising or educating a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the child’s difficulty in adjusting to structured environments and rules is often evident. This may manifest as an inability to focus on tasks that require concentration, organize and maintain order in effective ways, exercise self-restraint, or calm the body when high energy is inappropriate. ADHD is a condition involving boundaries: a rounded inner world that struggles to fit into the square framework of defined rules. Naturally, this challenge can also affect adherence to the framework of Jewish law.

Is There Evidence?
This area of study has only begun to gain attention in recent years. Research conducted among religious Jewish adolescents indicates that ADHD is associated with difficulties in adhering to commandments. Moreover, a very high percentage of teenagers who drop out of Torah-based educational systems have ADHD.

Does ADHD Necessarily Mean Lapses in Observance?
Not necessarily. The reality is not black and white. Not all individuals with ADHD find it difficult to observe all commandments; however, in general, individuals with ADHD may struggle more with consistently following rules. Much also depends on whether the disorder is being managed. Many studies show that individuals with ADHD are more likely to break laws, such as being at higher risk of receiving traffic tickets. Still, this does not mean that everyone with ADHD will break laws.

What Shouldn’t Be Done?
Often, parents may assume that a child’s spiritual struggles stem from a lack of reverence, treating the child as if they are indifferent to Torah. The child himself may be confused about why he finds it difficult to observe commandments. When a parent views the child as lacking reverence, the child may internalize this message, seeing himself as “evil in his own eyes,” losing hope and motivation to improve. The truth is that ADHD is an inborn trait that affects brain function, making it difficult to conform to frameworks and rules. The brain functions like a “machine”; it does not distinguish whether the rules are written in the Shulchan Aruch or in a driving code.

What Should Be Done?
Diagnosis: Awareness of one’s challenges makes coping easier. Some fear that labeling the condition may provide an excuse, but the opposite is true. Recognizing boundary difficulties does not remove responsibility; rather, it increases it, as one understands there is a concrete reason to work on oneself. A person with ADHD is not “foolish” and remains fully responsible for their actions, even though their point of decision may differ and mitigating circumstances may exist.

Treating Through the Body: Physical treatment varies from person to person and cannot be detailed fully here. One of the most effective treatments, when recommended by a physician, is medication. Medication helps activate parts of the brain responsible for maintaining boundaries. Research shows that although individuals with ADHD are at higher risk for law violations, medication reduces that risk by about 30 percent in men and 40 percent in women.

Treating Through the Mind: A person is a unity of body and soul, and therefore the mental and emotional aspects cannot be ignored. Leading medical guidelines worldwide emphasize the importance of addressing these dimensions as well. Viewing ADHD as solely a brain-based issue is a serious mistake. The body is only one part of the person. The tendency not to conform appears in brain function but also reflects an aspect of character that can be addressed through self-development.

Self-work involves three components (MILA):
What: Gaining an accurate understanding of the challenge.
Why: Finding personal meaning, emotional support, and strengthening motivation.
How: Identifying and refining methods that help the individual adapt to frameworks and rules without losing their uniqueness.

Here, we will focus on the “what” component. ADHD has four central elements: concentration, organization, restraint, and calmness. Its expression differs from person to person, with each individual having a unique combination and specific areas of difficulty. One person may struggle with restraint, concentration, and calmness but not organization. Two people may both struggle with organization, yet for one it involves time management, while for the other it involves arranging physical objects. Below is an overview of these four elements and how each can affect religious observance.

Concentration: Difficulties include sustaining focus over time, filtering distractions, paying attention to detail, and learning in a systematic and organized way. These challenges can affect the acquisition of essential knowledge needed for observance, whether related to halachot or beliefs. A child who struggles with learning may lack basic knowledge of commandments or Judaism, reducing commitment to observance. This can also impact a student’s connection to Torah study; when they do not feel a sense of belonging in such a central practice, motivation to live according to halacha may weaken. People with ADHD often think in a “rounded” manner: they may be inspired by learning, enjoy discussions, and become excited about specific ideas, yet struggle with “square” thinking—orderly, systematic, and structured learning. As a result, many feel they “gain nothing from study,” experience confusion and disorder, and feel lost within the yeshiva framework. When a young man spends much of his day bored, empty, and without meaning, his connection to Torah can erode.

Organization: This includes difficulty organizing tasks, managing time, planning, and keeping schedules. Many commandments are time-dependent, such as Shema, prayer, and Shabbat. When time management is impaired, a person may genuinely wish to observe a commandment but repeatedly fail. For example, they may plan to pray in an organized setting but remember at the last moment and miss communal prayer. Another example is difficulty organizing bedtime, leading to missing the recitation of Shema. Over time, repeated failures can create a sense of defeat and loss of hope. People may develop justifications or “excuses” for their behavior. Additionally, individuals with ADHD often struggle with realistic time perception. When engaged in tasks that do not excite them, time can feel endless, leading to impatience and avoidance. Activities such as prayer, Birkat Hamazon, Shabbat meals, learning in Avot Ubanim, and similar commitments may feel interminable.

Restraint: Challenges include difficulty delaying gratification, low patience, low tolerance for frustration, emotional outbursts, and impulsive behavior. All reflect a preference for the immediate present over future goals. This lack of self-control can make it harder to choose what “needs” to be done over what one “wants” to do. As a result, individuals may struggle with commandments that require waiting or restraint, such as reciting blessings before eating, waiting between meat and milk, waiting for Kiddush, controlling anger, avoiding prohibited actions or speech, or performing commandments when motivation is low. When untreated, emotional and social difficulties may intensify. Emotional distress weakens one’s ability to restrain impulses, while social challenges reduce feelings of belonging and commitment to the community. This loss of communal connection removes a vital source of support for maintaining halachic boundaries.

Calmness: A lack of calmness may present as excessive mental, verbal, or physical activity. This can include constant talking or thinking, frequent movement, fidgeting, changing positions, excessive running, dancing, or climbing, and difficulty remaining seated for long periods. Sometimes prolonged sitting itself becomes exhausting. Torah study and prayer often require remaining in one place for extended periods. Community expectations also require children to sit quietly during prayer, remain silent, and refrain from other activities. Additionally, individuals with ADHD may experience fluctuations in activity level: at times the body is overly active, making it difficult to fall asleep, while at other times it is overly calm, making it difficult to get moving for morning prayers or study.

In Summary: ADHD can significantly affect religious observance. Medical treatment and proper guidance can help, but the first and most essential step is awareness and understanding of the specific ways the disorder influences both the desire and the ability to observe commandments.

Chaim Dayan is a clinical social worker and doctoral candidate, and chair of the Institute for Attention.