How do we know it is ADHD?
There are some pointers that lead medical and educational professionals to suspect a student has ADHD:
Inattention
- Difficulty following instructions or completing tasks
- Short attention span and difficulty ‘sticking to’ an activity
- Difficulty organising tasks and activities
- Easily distracted and forgetful
- Often doesn’t listen when spoken to
Hyperactivity
- Fidgets, is restless and can’t sit still in class
- Can’t stop talking, noisy
- Runs about when it is inappropriate
Impulsiveness
- Interrupts others
- Blurts out answers without waiting for the question to be finished
- Difficulty in waiting or taking turns
In adolescence and adulthood, both those diagnosed and undiagnosed with ADHD in childhood are often associated with continuing emotional and social problems, including substance misuse, unemployment and involvement in crime.
Is it definitely ADHD?
Unfortunately, as there is no one definitive clinical test for ADHD, diagnosis can be difficult. Many students have problems with self-control periodically and it is difficult to know when this is ‘ordinary’ development or when it could be as a result of ADHD.
There may be other causes of disruptive behaviour, such as dyslexia, language or hearing difficulties, or conduct disorder, which need to be considered (although these problems may also affect students with ADHD). For these reasons, a diagnosis of ADHD should only be made by a child and adolescent psychiatrist, paediatrician or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional (HCP) with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD and other mental health conditions.
A diagnosis of ADHD
An ADHD diagnosis requires:
- Clinical and psychosocial assessment
- Developmental and psychiatric history
- Observer reports
It is likely that, as the student’s teacher, you may be asked to provide information to enable the diagnosis to be made or progress to be monitored.
The diagnosis of ADHD can be confirmed upon meeting specific criteria (DSM-5) and also the ADHD symptoms must have been present before the age of 12 years, for the duration of at least 6 months, occurring in more than one place (e.g. both at home and school), not appropriate to the student’s developmental age and must be seriously disruptive to their performance.
Useful Links
Patient support organisations
- UKAP – the UK ADHD Partnership – https://www.ukadhd.com
- ADHD Foundation – Schools – https://adhdfoundation.org.uk/
- Young Minds – ADHD and mental health – https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/a-z-guide/adhd/
- The National Attention Deficit Information and Support Service (ADDISS) – https://www.addiss.co.uk
- Scottish ADHD coalition – https://www.scottishadhdcoalition.org
Professional organisations
- National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN) – https://www.nasen.org.uk
- National Health Service – Overview ADHD – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline NG87 – Information for the public – https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87/informationforpublic
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