ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

WHAT IS ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that impacts the parts of the brain that help us plan, focus on, and execute tasks. ADHD symptoms vary by sub-type — inattentive, hyperactive, or combined — and are often more difficult to diagnose in girls and adults. It is not a behaviour disorder. ADHD is not a mental illness. ADHD is not a specific learning disability. ADHD is, instead, a developmental impairment of the brain’s self-management system. Both adults and children can be diagnosed with ADHD.ADHD can occur in people of any intellectual ability, although it’s more common in people with learning disability.

WHAT ARE THE 3 TYPES OF ADHD?

  • Primarily hyperactive-impulsive type

  • Primarily inattentive type (formerly called ADD)

  • Primarily combined type

WHAT CAUSES ADHD?

The causes of ADHD remain unsolved. However, Research suggests that genetics and heredity play a large part in determining who gets ADHD. ADHD is not caused by bad parenting, too much sugar, or too many video games. ADHD is a brain-based, biological disorder.

Like many other illnesses, several factors can contribute to ADHD, such as:

  • Genes

  • Cigarette smoking, alcohol use, or drug use during pregnancy

  • Exposure to environmental toxins during pregnancy

  • Exposure to environmental toxins, such as high levels of lead, at a young age

  • Low birth weight

  • being born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy)

  • Brain injuries

ADHD SYMPTOMS

  • 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

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosing ADHD usually includes a checklist for rating ADHD symptoms and taking a history of the child from parents, teachers, and the child. An evaluation of intelligence, aptitude, personality traits, or processing skills is also done. These are often done with input from the parents and teachers if the child is of school age.

WHAT CAN BE DONE IF A CHILD IS DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD?

If the outcome of the Assessment indicates that your child meets the criteria for special education services, a special educator develop an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) specifically tailored to your child. The IEP is a written document that outlines goals for your child, as well as the educational, developmental and behavioural support and services your child will receive in order to help them reach these goals.

HYPERACTIVE – IMPULSIVE

  • A child with ADHD 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 often described as restlessness.)
  • Talks excessively
  • Is always “on the go,” as if “driven by a motor”
  • Has trouble waiting for their turn
  • Blurts out answers
  • Interrupts others

Combined : This involves signs of both other types

SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN WITH ADHD

Teacher and School Staff Roles:

  • They can offer information for evaluating behavior and learning issues and provide assistance with behavioral training.

Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions:

  • Teachers and regular school staff cannot diagnose ADHD, prescribe treatment, or require medication for students.
  • Only specialists can make these assessments and treatment decisions based on their evaluations.

Special Education Support:

  • Students with ADHD impacting their learning may qualify for special education services.
  • Accommodations like study skills instruction, classroom adjustments, alternative teaching methods, and curriculum modifications can benefit children with ADHD.

Collaboration among parents, medical professionals, and educators is crucial for effectively supporting children with ADHD in a school environment.

HOW DOES ADHD AFFECT SCHOOL PERFORMANCE?

  • These students are often identified after consistent issues like rule non-compliance, task incompleteness, classroom disruptions, and poor academic performance.

Academic Impact:

  • Research indicates that students with ADHD experience ongoing academic difficulties, resulting in lower grades, more failures, and disruptive behavior.
  • Inattentiveness leads to missed assignment details and daydreaming, while hyperactivity can cause disruptions.
  • Impulsivity may result in careless errors and inattentiveness to non-entertaining tasks.
  • Overall, students with ADHD face more academic problems compared to their peers.

Special Education Considerations:

  • If interventions and accommodations in the regular classroom do not significantly improve a student’s situation, removal from the mainstream classroom may be considered.

Addressing these challenges with appropriate interventions is essential to support students with ADHD in their education.

IEP – INDIVIDUALISED EDUCATION PLAN

An IEP is a specialized education plan designed for children with disabilities, encompassing conditions like ADHD, autism, and physical disabilities when these conditions impact a child’s school success. An IEP can comprise accommodations and modifications, including the following components:

Special Education: Provides structured learning to aid a child’s education. Establishing routines can be particularly beneficial for children with ADHD.

Behavior Modification: Teaches the replacement of undesirable behaviors with positive ones. Clear and simple rules are established for children, along with predetermined consequences for breaking them, such as time-outs or the loss of privileges. Positive behavior is recognized and rewarded.

Psychotherapy (Counseling): Offers strategies for individuals with ADHD to manage their emotions and frustration more effectively, potentially enhancing self-esteem. Counseling can also help family members better understand and support a child or adult with ADHD.

Social Skills Training: Focuses on teaching behaviors like taking turns and sharing, enhancing interpersonal skills.

IEPs are tailored to each child’s unique needs and are designed to support their academic and personal development in the school environment.

 

FLEXIBLE TEACHING METHODS IN DACAL

Children with special needs often benefit from personalized teaching methods that align with their unique learning styles. At DACAL, our Special Educators are equipped to deliver instruction through various mediums, recognizing that many special needs children are visual learners. Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) incorporate activities using visual tools to facilitate learning from visual experiences.

Comprehensive Support:

DACAL boasts a dedicated team of professionals, including Special Educators, Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, and more. These experts collaborate to deliver relevant services, closely monitoring the child’s evolving needs. They remain attentive to signs that indicate adjustments are required for the intervention plan or IEP.

Supportive Environment:

DACAL fosters an environment conducive to the child’s growth and skill development. These children require love, support, and care, and DACAL prioritizes making them feel welcome, accepted, and comfortable during their time at school.

REGISTERED & RECOGNISED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR WELFARE OF THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED BY THE GOVT. OF TAMIL NADU REGISTRATION NO. 685 / 2024

NIOS ACCREDITED CENTRE NO. M19103

DACAL is a school which caters to children with developmental delays, learning difficulties and special needs.

CONTACT US

DACAL - Darul Ansar Centre for Applied Learning

Anjuman-e-Himayath-e-Islam

#16, B.N. Reddy Road, Chennai 600 017.

Phone: 044 4901 4553, 98842 70480

[email protected]

Mon-Fri: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm