ADHD

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What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects children and teens and can continue into adulthood. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder of children. Children with ADHD may be hyperactive and unable control their impulses. Or they may have trouble paying attention. These behaviors interfere with school and home life.It’s more common in boys than in girls. It’s usually discovered during the early school years, when a child begins to have problems paying attention.Key symptoms
Inattention.

  • Is easily distracted
  • Doesn’t follow directions or finish tasks
  • Doesn’t appear to be listening
  • Doesn’t pay attention and makes careless mistakes
  • Forgets about daily activities
  • Has problems organizing daily tasks
  • Doesn’t like to do things that require sitting still
  • Often loses things
  • Tends to daydream

Hyperactivity

  • Often squirms, fidgets, or bounces when sitting
  • Doesn’t stay seated
  • Has trouble playing quietly
  • Is always moving, such as running or climbing on things (In teens and adults, this is more commonly described as restlessness.)
  • Talks excessively
  • Is always “on the go” as if “driven by a motor”

Impulsivity.

  • Has trouble waiting for his or her turn
  • Blurts out answers
  • Interrupts others

How can I help my child?

https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/parenting-tips
Rehearsing common situations that your child finds difficult in school can help.  For example if your child has difficulty copying from the board they could explain to the teacher at the end of the class that it takes them longer to do this than other children and ask for a paper copy. If your child finds it difficult to read out loud they can politely ask if it is ok not read today and if they could speak to the teacher at the end of the class; they can then explain how this makes them feel and ask the teacher for preparation time with the passage before reading in front of the class. Understood has some other good tips, take a look by clicking here
kooth.com is a free, safe and anonymous online support for young people providing counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free at the point of use. Provided by XenZone it is approved and provides NHS services too.

More resources

ADHD Together

This resource is to help parents, carers and teachers from across Europe work together in supporting school-age children with ADHD. The sections have been developed to cover the key steps needed to encourage them to thrive both at home and in the school environment.

Living with ADHD

This website has been developed to support those whose lives are affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – parents/carers and teachers -and also provides resources for children and teenagers themselves, to help them understand and manage the condition.

 
ADHD in practice aims to provide a broad blend of articles of interest to all those in the multidisciplinary team involved in the diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
 
Living with Attention Deficit
 
The voice of young people’s mental health and wellbeing
The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service.
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