ADHD is a condition that affects behaviour characterised by inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity.
A child with an attention deficit has difficulty with inattention self-regulation and hyperactivity and there may be problems with sleep and anxiety. In the classroom this may result in having trouble maintaining attention for long teaching periods and being easily distracted by others. They often seem unable to sit still, finish tasks or even notice what is going on around them. They may seem fine one day, while the next they are whirling round in frenzied activity or they may be daydreamers.
Children who have ADHD may be of any level of IQ but it is more common with children with learning difficulties. However many are highly creative, intuitive and physically able. A number of well-known and successful names have reportedly experienced ADHD, such as John F Kennedy, Bill Gates and Simone Biles. Unfortunately, because children with ADHD find it difficult to concentrate, they frequently do not fulfil their true potential. This underachievement, and persistent criticism of their behaviour, can lead to low self-esteem and depression. They are often the class clown and may be school avoiders.
The exact cause is unknown, but may have a genetic component, other factors include prematurity and low birth weight, smoking and alcohol during pregnancy. Most diagnoses in children occur before age 12 but an increasing number of adults are now realising their diagnosis.
In every class of 30 children it is likely that there will be between one and two pupils with ADHD with four times more boys than girls. Girls with ADHD are often picked up later than boys, and research reveals how differently it can present. For example, girls may not demonstrate hyperactivity, but may seem unusually distracted or untidy, or late with assignments. A girl with ADHD may have difficulty sustaining attention for a single task, so they declare it is boring and try to change activity quickly. Girls with ADHD have been shown to have relatively high rates of verbal aggression to other children in a classroom situation, whereas boys may be engaged in more rule-breaking and externalising behaviours. This goes some way to explain why fewer girls are referred to professional help at a young age.
Some studies dispute there is a difference in ADHD between the genders and claim the symptoms are the same for both, but the combination of inattention and hyperactivity changes over time, as the child matures, with younger children being more noticeably active, while older children and adults struggle with inattentiveness
An early diagnosis and treatment from a specialist can save a child the pain of inappropriate social skills and deflated confidence. Treatments involve management by medication and psychological therapies, and can be effective if identified early on.
ADHD changes over time, as the child makes gains in concentration, however relative to their peers they continue to struggle with inattention and impulsivity, particularly when the increased organisational demands of secondary school become too much. They may become tired and disheartened by poor school performance.
Anxiety and Depression commonly co-occur, causing the child to be worried and nervous, or even have physical symptoms like a rapid heartbeat. ADHD can co-exist with other behavioural conditions such as Autism, ODD or dyspraxia.
For more information, visit www.adhdfoundation.org.uk
What matters to your child with special needs or learning difficulties is finding the school that best suits them as an individual and will give them the best chances in life.
A child with a learning difficulty or a learning disability will struggle to acquire new information, they may need help with independence and understanding complex ideas. No two people with learning difficulties are the same.
Need help? Perhaps you suspect your child has some learning difficulty and you would like advice on what you should do. Or perhaps it is becoming clear that your child's current school is not working for him or her, and you need help to find a mainstream school which has better SEN provision, or to find a special school which will best cater for your child's area of need. Our SEN consultancy team advises on both special schools, and the mainstream schools with good SEN support, from reception through to the specialist colleges for 19+. Special Educational Needs Index
When a child has any form of special needs, in particular when they have autism, the first priority needs to be whether the school can support your child’s needs.
If your child has special needs, you are likely to need more time off work than others. The good news is you have the right to request flexible working.