What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; it is a mental condition wherein a person finds it difficult to keep their attention focused, leading to struggles with concentration (Oxford Languages Dictionary). Here are some key facts about ADHD:
- People of any intellectual ability can have ADHD.
- There is no precise cause for ADHD, but some contributing factors to a person being born with ADHD include having inherited it, their birther’s abuse of alcohol or smoking during pregnancy, or being prematurely born or having a low birthweight.
- The majority of people with ADHD are diagnosed in early childhood, with symptoms usually being noticeable before the age of 6. Still, people with ADHD may be diagnosed anytime from childhood to adolescence to adulthood.
- It is common in people with learning disabilities.
- It is possible to have ADHD and also have other problems or conditions like autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, dyspraxia, epilepsy, Tourette’s syndrome, dyslexia, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems.
- ADHD is diagnosed more in boys than girls; females with ADHD are more likely to show symptoms of inattentiveness as opposed to disruptive behaviour, which has led to a failure in girls being diagnosed.
What are the symptoms of ADHD in children and teenagers?
The two main symptoms of ADHD are inattentiveness (difficulty concentrating and focusing) and hyperactivity and impulsiveness. However, only 2-3 in 10 people with ADHD have difficulty with the latter – this is a form of ADHD called attention deficit disorder (ADD). Symptoms are seen in a home and school environment.
The following questions are based on the NHS list of ADHD symptoms, which can be found on their website:
Does your child…
- get easily distracted? (have a short attention span)
- make careless mistakes in their schoolwork?
- often forget when you have told them something?
- always seem to be losing things?
- quickly abandon time-consuming or tedious tasks?
- seem like they are not listening when you are asking them to carry out an instruction?
- constantly change activity or task?
- finds it difficult to organise tasks into a to-do list?
If you answered ‘Yes’ to all/many of the above, your child is showcasing signs of inattentiveness and may have ADHD; it could be a good idea to contact your child’s GP to organise an ADHD assessment.
Does your child…
- find it impossible to sit still, especially in a calm or quiet space?
- constantly fidget?
- find it difficult to concentrate on tasks?
- always seem like they are racing or jumping around? (excessive physical movement)
- talk excessively?
- find it impossible to wait their turn?
- act without thinking?
- often interrupt conversations?
- have little or no sense of danger?
If you answered ‘Yes’ to all/many of the above, your child is showcasing signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness and may have ADHD, it could be a good idea to contact your child’s GP to organise an ADHD assessment.
It is important to note that having these symptoms does not necessarily confirm your child does have ADHD; this is why it is essential you book an appointment with your child’s GP.
How to get an ADHD diagnosis?
Step 1: Book an appointment with your school’s special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) & your child’s GP.
Step 2: At the GP appointment, your child may be asked questions about their symptoms, where they occur, and if they affect their daily life (e.g. they make socialising challenging), if there have been any recent significant events (e.g. death, divorce) if there is anyone else in the family who has/had ADHD, any other notable health conditions they may have.
Step 3: If your child’s GP believes your child may have GP, they could suggest a roughly ten-week period of “watchful waiting” where they wait to see if their symptoms change at all; if, after this period, symptoms stay the same or get worse they may refer your child to an ADHD specialist for a formal assessment. They may also recommend an ADHD parent training or education programme.
Step 4: During their diagnosis with an ADHD specialist, there may be a physical examination (to confirm there are no other causes for your child’s symptoms), interviews with you and your child and reports from other “significant people” (e.g. teachers, partners). They may suggest specific support resources and medication if the diagnosis is positive.
How may ADHD affect your child's school experience?
- Your child may find it difficult to focus, get easily distracted, find it hard to sit still without fidgeting, and rush work, which leads to making careless mistakes; completing homework and studying for exams may be challenging, potentially leading to lower grades.
- They may find it overwhelming to pack their school bag or organise a to-do list for the day, leading to emotional outbursts out of frustration.
- They may get in trouble with teachers for speaking out in class, interrupting the teacher, generally being “disruptive”, not being able to sit still, seeming as if they are not listening, misplacing homework or PE kit, or forgetting to hand in homework to name a few examples.
- Finding waiting for their turn impossible or interrupting others may make it difficult for your child to socialise with other students.
For these reasons, it is a good idea to inform your child’s school of their diagnosis or suspected diagnosis if you are still in the process of getting one, so they can best support your child too; there may be specific resources that your child can access at the school, and teachers can be more understanding.
Top tips for supporting your child with ADHD
- Be patient and listen: The most important thing you can do is be patient with your child. Acknowledge their frustration or upset, and help them devise a strategy for dealing with the things they find difficult.
- Work as a team to get organised: Create daily/weekly to-do lists and a homework schedule, and pack their school bag with your child to help them practise this skill and to avoid them getting in trouble for missing homework or forgetting any kit.
- Break up studying into smaller sessions: When they are at home studying or doing homework, adding frequent breaks where your child can get up and move around can alleviate their desire to move. If possible, you could have them move into different rooms between sessions.
- Help them fidget: Getting upset with your child because they keep moving around and telling them to “just sit still” is not very productive; it may just lead to further frustration on both sides. Instead, help your child to alleviate their need to fidget with fidget toys, which they can use while sitting at a desk. You can also channel their need to move into physical activity like sports clubs where they can socialise with other students.
