National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) Dental Hygienist Practice Test

What condition can make it difficult for individuals to acquire new skills, potentially related to ADHD?

1. Anxiety

2. Hyperactivity

3. Impulsivity

4. Restlessness

The correct answer is: Impulsivity

The condition that can make it difficult for individuals to acquire new skills, particularly in relation to ADHD, is linked to impulsivity. Impulsivity in ADHD manifests as a tendency to act without thinking or to make hasty decisions without considering the consequences. This can significantly affect the learning process because acquiring new skills usually requires patience, practice, and the ability to focus on tasks over a sustained period. Impulsive individuals may jump from one task to another without fully committing to learning each new skill, leading to gaps in knowledge and performance. While anxiety, hyperactivity, and restlessness can also affect learning and skill acquisition, impulsivity directly impacts learning by disrupting the continuity and depth of engagement with tasks. Anxiety can lead to avoidance of situations where new skills must be acquired, hyperactivity may cause difficulty remaining still and focused, and restlessness can make it challenging to stay engaged long enough to learn effectively. Thus, impulsivity emerges as a particularly impactful barrier in the context of ADHD and skill acquisition.