HD is diagnosed two to four times more frequently in boys than in girls,[12][13] though studies suggest this discrepancy may be partially due to subjective bias of referring teachers.[14] ADHD management usually involves some combination of medications, behavior modifications, lifestyle changes, and counseling. Its symptoms can be difficult to differentiate from other disorders, increasing the likelihood that the diagnosis of ADHD will be missed.[15] Additionally, most clinicians have not received formal training in the assessment and treatment of ADHD, particularly in adult patients.[15]
You can help your child succeed in school by:
- Working with teachers and other school personnel.
- Educating yourself about ADHD.
- Helping your child control his or her symptoms.
- Educate yourself about ADHD and your child's education rights.
- Build positive relationships with your child's teachers and other school personnel.
- Communicate openly and frequently with school officials, teachers, your child, and your child's doctor.
- Work with your child to control symptoms as much as possible. This includes using medicine and/or behavior management techniques as recommended by your child's doctor.
- Keep records. Medical evaluations, behavior counseling, and previous school records are all helpful to the school personnel who will develop education programs for your child.
Poor school performance can harm a child's self-esteem, which affects personal, family, and social life. People with low self-esteem feel that they do not belong, that they cannot learn and accomplish things, and that they do not have anything to contribute. They lack confidence in their abilities to be successful in life.
Educate YourSelf
- Learn about ADHD. Use the Internet to locate national organizations, ask your doctor, or visit your local library or bookstore for information about ADHD.
- Know your child's symptoms and treatment plan. Talk with your doctor about your child's behaviors that may interfere with learning and about ways to control those behaviors. Develop a record of your child's treatment plan. Use the suggested treatment plan record
(What is a PDF document?).
- Learn about your child's education rights. Laws exist ensuring education rights for children who have conditions that interfere with learning. These laws also stipulate that parents have a right to be informed about and participate in educational decisions concerning their child. Contact your state and local education departments for information about ADHD in the schools and your rights to educational accommodations.
- Talk with other parents of children with ADHD. Join a support group for ADHD families. Find out how others have effectively worked with school systems.
Strategies for the Classroom
- Classroom rules should be clear and concise and reviewed regularly with the student. It is helpful to have the child repeat back rules, expectations or other instructions to make sure they are understood. These rules should be posted prominently in the classroom.
- Make sure the student is seated close to the teacher and away from distractions (away from doors, windows, cubby area, pencil sharpeners, etc.).
- Give the student frequent and immediate feedback or consequences about behaviors.
- Catch the student being good and give him immediate praise. Ignore negative behaviors that are minimal and not disruptive.
- Use rewards and incentives before punishment to motivate the student and to help keep school feeling like a positive place. Change up the rewards frequently to help prevent the student from becoming bored.
- Allow student frequent physical breaks to move around (to hand out or collect materials, run errands to the office or other areas in the school building, erase the board, get a drink of water at the water fountain, etc.)
- Allow some restlessness at work area. Allow student to stand up at his desk if it helps him stay on task.
- Tape an index card to the student’s desk with written class rules. Help him keep track of the schedule by reviewing it with him at various times during the day and prepare him for each transition.
- Limit distractions, excessive noise, distracting visual stimuli, clutter, etc. (For some kids with ADHD listening to “white noise” or soft background music can help concentration and focus)
- Reduce the student’s total work load. Break work down into smaller sections.
- Give concise one or two step directions. Avoid “overloading” with too much info.
- Place a hand on the student’s shoulder, hand or arm while talking to him in order to help him stay focused on what is said.
- Allow the student to hold a small “koosh ball” or silly putty or something tactile for him to manipulate. This slight stimulation often helps keep an ADHD child focused.
- If the school allows it, some students benefit from chewing gum to release energy and keep concentration.
- Schedule the most difficult subjects in the morning time when the student (and the whole class) is more fresh and less fatigued.
- Do not use loss of recess as a consequence for negative behavior. (ADHD kids benefit from the physical movement that occurs during recess and can usually focus better following this exercise)
- Use timers, taped time signals, or verbal cues to show how much time the student has remaining for an activity.
- Pair the student with a “study buddy” –- a kind and mature classroom peer who can help give reminders or refocus the child when he gets off track.
