Identifying Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the Classroom:

It's back to school time! Here are some questions that parents might want to ask the school to try to optimize the management of a child with ADHD:

1. What strategies does this school have for assessing, and meeting, the needs of an ADHD child?

2. Who are the people that provide actual evaluations or assessments of children at your school? If they are making an assessment of my child, will they contact me to get a good family history, developmental history, and medical history of my child?

3. Is there a school psychologist on campus? Is there one available? Does he/she do achievement and ability testing?

4. Is there an advocate or case manager available to my child? Read more of the article...

HINTS FOR TEACHERS of ADHD Students

1. Don't buy into the line, "He'd behave if he wanted to."

That may or may not be true. He may behave just fine from time to time, and if you encourage him, he may do well for periods of time. But his problem is not that he does not want to behave, rather his problem has a medical basis as described on this site.

2. Understand that of all kids with ADHD, about 60% or so are hyperactive, and that 40% or so are not hyper at all.

Also know that about 60% are male, and about 40% are female.

Not all kids with ADHD cause problems. And only one out of three with the disorder will ever get help from a professional.

3. Don't dismiss the behaviors as just either poor parenting or poor classroom management. Read more of the article...

ADHD in the Classroom

Often the ADHD child has special educational needs, though not always. Most Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder kids can be successful in the regular classroom with some help.

Identifying Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – ADHD – in the Classroom

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the phrase that is used to describe children who have significant problems with high levels of distractibility or inattention, impulsiveness, and often with excessive motor activity levels.

There may be deficits in attention and impulse control without hyperactivity being present. In fact, recent studies indicate that as many as 40% of the ADHD kids may not be hyperactive. Read more of the article...

By "hitting the wall" we mean that the child simply cannot keep up with the demands of his classes, and their teacher is going to do something about the problem. This something might be getting help, calling the parent's attention to the situation, or complaining, but at least the problem is no longer being ignored.

What do you imagine the most difficult environment for a child who had difficulty sitting still, difficulty paying attention, and loved to talk to other children might be? Read more of the article...

ADHD in School

Can you imagine the most difficult environment for a child who had difficulty sitting still, difficulty paying attention, and who loved to talk to other children?

Imagine that this child had to go into this environment every day, and was expected to perform in this environment at the same level as children who didn't have attention problems. Read more of the article...