Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Information for schools

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Hilary Davidson
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1 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Information for schools

2 What is ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. The most common difficulties are typically: Hyperactivity Impulsivity Inattentiveness. There are three different presentations of ADHD so some children may be mostly inattentive whilst others are hyperactive/ impulsive. The most severe form of ADHD is the combined presentation where all these difficulties are present. It is important that ADHD is recognised early so that assessment and treatment can make sure that the children are socialised and educated as well as possible. Teachers and school staff are often in a unique position to identify children with ADHD symptoms and recognise the signs.

3 Children with ADHD might: Have lots of energy and find it hard to sit still Find it hard to concentrate or keep focused on a task Distract other people by speaking or making noise Interrupt conversations Blurt out answers Find it hard to remember instructions Forget to do homework Get bored easily and become distracted or daydream Lose things, be disorganised and untidy Find it hard to carry out tasks which involve waiting or taking turns Say or do something they haven t thought about first Have poor peer relationships because they often try to lead the group or because they can be very intense Have a reputation for being naughty and not doing what they re told. In order to diagnose ADHD, the child must have difficulties in two or more settings, their difficulties must be causing a moderate impairment socially, academically or otherwise, and it must be pervasive. To make sure that children are diagnosed as appropriately as possible, Westminster Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) does a thorough psychosocial assessment of the child and family. We take into account the child s early development, their schooling and their psychiatric history. We routinely ask schools for help with the use of questionnaires to understand how the child is coping in the classroom and playground, both emotionally and academically. Get into fights or be aggressive and argumentative

4 What is helpful for children with ADHD? At CAMHS, we follow NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines to make sure our practice is current and evidence based. The present recommended treatments for ADHD are parenting support and guidance, medication and classroom strategies. Parenting There are many different parenting courses on offer that are great for giving parents different ideas. These tend to focus on reducing difficult or challenging behaviours and improving attachment and bonding in families. Medicine The medicines work by enhancing arousal in the prefrontal cortex in the brain (where we make our decisions). When this medicine is given, it makes information processing more efficient so the ADHD symptoms like inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity are improved. When ADHD medicine is used, we check on the children a few times a year to take their height, weight, pulse and blood pressure. We also write to schools to see how they re doing and speak to them and their families so we can we properly evaluate how well the medicine works. We may ask for questionnaires now again so we can see progress. We have a dedicated CAMHS website that further explains some of the issues we work with. You can find it at: camhs.cnwl.nhs.uk

5 Tips for schools and teachers Minimise distractions consider where the child is sat (away from windows or doors) Inattentive children tend to do better if they are sat at the front of class Make sure work is set at an appropriate level neither too hard or too easy Instructions must be clear and concise and it helps if instructions are broken down into simple components Use a multi-sensory approach to learning to embrace all learning styles Give feedback to children immediately, both positive and negative - those with ADHD find it particularly difficult to defer rewards Boundaries must be clear and consistent across all teachers and subjects Be consistent with feedback, consequences and rewards The child may need a toy/stress ball/wiggle cushion to fiddle with or sit on to aid concentration (otherwise will find other things to distract themselves) Talk to the child by name to ensure they are paying attention or to regain focus Remember to liaise closely with parents and with CAMHS. Where to find us Westminster Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service 7a Woodfield Road London W9 2NW Tel: westminstercamhs.cnwl@ nhs.net If you want more information about ADHD or anything in this leaflet, please contact CAMHS for more information. Tell us we re listening Our staff want to know how they are doing. Tell us what you think at ww.cnwl.nhs.uk/feedback and then we ll know what we have to do.

6 This document is also available in other languages, large print, Braille, and audio format upon request. Please Arabic Farsi Bengali Dokumentigaan waxaa xitaa lagu heli karaa luqado kale, daabacad far waawayn, farta indhoolaha (Braille) iyo hab dhegaysi ah markii la soo codsado. Somali Mediante solicitação, este documento encontra-se também disponível noutras línguas, num formato de impressão maior, em Braille e em áudio. Portuguese Tamil Este documento también está disponible y puede solicitarse en otros idiomas, letra grande, braille y formato de audio. Spanish Dokument ten jest na życzenie udostępniany także w innych wersjach językowych, w dużym druku, w alfabecie Braille a lub w formacie audio. Polish Gujarati Be belge istenirse, başka dillerde, iri harflerle, Braille ile (görme engelliler için) ve ses kasetinde de temin edilebilir. Turkish Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, Stephenson House, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL. Tel: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust Ref: 0963_JAN2018 January 2018

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Information for carers

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Information for carers What is ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It affects the brain but not intelligence.