Information about ADHD
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is defined as a neurodevelopmental condition, thought to be caused by differences in the way the brain develops that affects the parts controlling attention, concentration, impulsivity, activity levels and memory.
This means a child or young person may experience difficulties in any or all of the below:
- paying attention
- impulsivity, and
- hyperactivity
Everybody is different, but a person with a diagnosis of ADHD has difficulty filtering out unimportant information, and maybe easily overstimulated and distracted, struggle to identify and retain the important information, have memory difficulties, feel overwhelmed by their own thoughts, respond before considering things properly, and find it difficult to regulate their feelings and behaviours.
ADHD in children is usually identified when parents and carers and practitioners in educational settings compare their different experiences of the child at home and in school or nursery.
Treatment can take different formats, from adjusting approaches to education, to therapy and medication.
Diagnosing ADHD
The NHS website outlines the steps taken in diagnosing ADHD and explains what happens during an assessment:
Waiting for an ADHD Assessment or Diagnosis
Assessment and diagnosis of ADHD can include a long wait.
During this time, your child may still require support.
Schools will use good quality inclusive teaching strategies for all children and young people and these approaches will support learners with a wide range of learning needs, including those with ADHD, with or without a diagnosis.
If your child needs more targeted support, schools use a wide range of interventions in order to assist their learning. These interventions should be of high quality and assessed on a regular basis to check they are supporting them to develop the skills they need.