3. WHAT IS ADHD
ADHD stands forAttention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder. ADHD is a common
behavioral disorder that affects an estimated
8% to 10% of school-age children. Boys are
about three times more likely than girls to be
diagnosed with it.
4. Symptoms of ADHD
There are the following :-
inattentiveness
hyperactivity
impulsiveness
5. inattentiveness
The main signs of inattentiveness are:
having a short attention span and being easily
distracted
making careless mistakes – for example, in
schoolwork
appearing forgetful or losing things
being unable to stick at tasks that are tedious or
time-consuming
appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out
instructions
constantly changing activity or task
having difficulty organising tasks
6. Hyperactivity and
impulsiveness
The main signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness are:
being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet
surroundings
constantly fidgeting
being unable to concentrate on tasks
excessive physical movement
excessive talking
being unable to wait their turn
acting without thinking
interrupting conversations
little or no sense of danger
7. Who is affected by ADHD?
Around 1.7 per cent of the UK population,
mostly children, have ADHD.
Boys are more likely than girls to be affected
by ADHD.
8. How is ADHD diagnosed ?
History of symptoms
Medical history
Educational history
Family history
Social assessment
And much, much more
9. Educational management
This includes individual, or group, learning
support for coexisting learning difficulties and
educational underachievement.The other
complexities and challenges involved when
supporting children and young people with
ADHD in school are described in other parts
of this guidance series.
10. What is the likely outcome?
Some children and young people will outgrow ADHD.
Roughly half of those affected appear to function normally
by young adulthood, but a significant number (in some
studies up to 60 per cent depending how the ADHD and its
impairment is assessed) will have problems that persist into
adult life.
These may take the form of persisting restlessness and
distractibility, perhaps with less obvious 'hyperactivity' in
many; depression, irritability, antisocial behaviour and
other adverse outcomes are observed at significantly
higher rates that non ADHD adults.
11. Diet
Research suggests that diet is not a
significant factor in ADHD for most children.
Some children have particular food allergies
that need investigation. Dietary changes
need to be supervised by a doctor and
nutritionist.