Title: City of Edinburgh Education Department CPD
1City of Edinburgh Education Department CPD
- ADHD
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
2Overview
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder is a
medically diagnosed condition and is currently
amongst the most commonly diagnosed disorders of
childhood It is best described as a complex set
of behaviours which forms part of the continuum
of emotional and behavioural difficulties and
which is unlikely to fit into a single category
3Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a child has ADHD?
ADHD has to be medically diagnosed. Children with
ADHD may present the behaviours identified in the
following pages.
4Frequently asked questions
- What should I look for?
- Inattention
- poor attention to task
- poor attention to detail
- apparently not listening
- poor self organisation
- avoids tasks requiring sustained mental
effort - easily distracted
- doesnt finish tasks
- loses homework pencils etc
- seems forgetful but memory is normal on testing
- noisy- cant play or work quietly
5Frequently asked questions
- What should I look for (cont)?
- Impulsiveness
- blurts out answers too soon
- fails to wait turn
- interrupts/intrudes on others activities
- talks excessively without response to social
demands - Overactivity
- fidgets, squirms
- leaves seat in class/mealtimes etc
- runs or climbs rather than walks
- persistent overactivity not moderated by social
demands
6Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the core features of ADHD?
- The core features Inattention, Impulsiveness and
Overactivity may exist on their own or in
combination and will lead to the diagnosis of 3
sub-types of ADHD Hyperactive - Impulsive
(AD/HD) - Inattentive (ADD)
- Combined (ADHD
- The core features may exist singularly or in
combination and impaired ability in the following
areas appears to be significant in children with
ADHD regardless of whether the hyperactive
component is present - organisational and planning skills
- delaying response to stimuli, self reflection and
pacing of tasks - delaying response to stimulus
- How can I help a child with ADHD?
- All children are different and so too are
children with ADHD. Each child needs careful
individual assessment and a detailed description
- and profile of strengths and difficulties drawn
up. - Intervention has to be considered at three levels
- whole school
- classroom
- individual
7First steps
8Whole school structures and systems
All schools have a responsibility to identify
pupils who have educational difficulties. Schools
will have copies of the City of Edinburgh
guidelines on the identification of pupils with
educational difficulties, their assessment and
the measures proposed to support them and to meet
their needs . These may incorporate a series of
measures from an Individual Education Plan to a
Record of Needs. It is the degree of difficulty
and the impact on their education that should
determine the response and this is particularly
true for children with ADHD
9Classroom management strategies
- Adults working with children with ADHD have to
consider adapting the pace and style of
presentation dependent on the needs of the
individual child. - A calm firm approach which offers clear
boundaries and expectations for acceptable
behaviour is beneficial. - Maintaining regular eye contact is most important
with these children, as is a predictable routine
10Classroom Management strategies
- Classroom seating should be flexible with areas
for group and individual work. An individual desk
may be used for tasks which do not require
interpersonal contact. - The child with ADHD should sit as close to the
teacher as possible without it seeming like a
punishment and should be away from visual
distractions eg corridors and windows. - A work-station could be created as a learning
space for the child - A buddy system to promote good role models could
be used.
11Organisation and lesson planning
- Predictable routines and structures should be
established for the beginnings and ends of
lessons.Warning should be given to enable
completion of tasks / tidying up etc - It should be made explicit when it is permitted
to move around. Tasks should be planned to
include both static and physical activities. - Short achievable targets should be set and task
completion rewarded promptly - Pace should be varied and presentation
multi-sensory. They need a calm atmosphere and
uncluttered, uncrowded surroundings.
12Behaviour management
- Classroom rules should be minimal, clear concise
and on display and understood by the child - Desired behaviour should be explicit and
reinforced. Specific behaviour should be praised
and rewarded - Feedback should be frequent with frequent, small
immediate rewards. Rewards should be negotiated
and rotated to maintain motivation - Consequences for breaking the rules should be
clearly focused and highly specific - Interactions should be calm and assertive with an
attitude of positive regard and interest. The
child should be told exactly why you are pleased
or displeased with them. - Only one target behaviour should be tackled at a
time
13Strategies to address inattention
- Seat pupil in a quiet area, away from
distractions and near a good role model - give assignments one at a time that are geared to
childs attention span - break up big assignments into short tasks
- provide frequent, immediate and consistent
feedback on behaviour and redirection back to
task - vary tasks
- give clear concise instructions. Repeat
- help child to set short term goals and recognise
when they need exercise or time out. - Provide access to quiet areas and alternative
environments - use headphones for silence, white noise, soothing
background music or lively music
14Strategies to address overactivity
- Allow legitimate opportunities for moving around
the room - provide activities for child to do when finding
it difficult to listen - arrange to have short breaks between assignments
- remind pupil to check work
- plan ahead for transitions eg set rules, talk
through, supervise closely use helper
15Strategies to address poor organisation and
planning
- Establish and display classroom routine and
schedule - organise desks jotters etc daily
- ask parents to organise system at home which
identifies what is needed at school each day - display a personal timetable and provide pupil
with a checklist to ensure that task is completed - provide rules for getting organised
- give assignments one at a time
16Strategies to address non-compliance
- Praise compliant behaviour
- provide immediate feedback for acceptable and
unacceptable behaviour - use teacher attention to reinforce positive
behaviour - teach self monitoring of behaviour
- set up behaviour contracts
17Strategies to address poor social relationships
- Praise appropriate social relationships
- organise social skills training
- set up social behaviour goals and a reward system
- praise pupil frequently to increase self esteem
- encourage co-operative learning tasks
- assign special responsibilities to pupil in
presence of peers so that they observe pupil in
positive light
18Strategies to address poor self esteem
- Provide reassurance and encouragement
- frequently compliment positive behaviour
- focus on childs talents and accomplishments
- looks for signs of stress and reinforce
frequently when signs of frustration are noted - look for opportunities for pupil to display a
leadership role in class
19Where can I find information about ADHD?
20What can I read about ADHD?
Professor Russell A. Barkley Taking Charge of
ADHD The Complete Authoritative Guide for
Parents (1995) The Guilford Press Dr Paul Cooper
and Dr Katherine Ideus Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder. A Practical Guide to ADHD
in Children (1996) London David Fulton
Publishers Dr Chris Green and Dr Kit Chee
Understanding ADHD. A Parents guide to ADHD in
children(1997) London Vermillion Dr Sam
Goldstein Understanding and Managing Childrens
Classroom Behaviour (1995) New York Wiley Dr Sam
Goldstein and Dr Michael Goldstein
Hyperactivity, Why wont me child pay
attention(1992) New York Wiley
21What can I read about ADHD?
Dr Sam Goldstein and Dr Michael
GoldsteinManaging ADHD in Children- A Guide for
Practitioners (1998) New York Wiley Jean Robb
and Hilary Letts Creating kids who can
concentrate- Proven strategies for beating ADD
without drugs (1997) London Hodder and
Stoughton Professor Eric Taylor The Hyperactive
child, A Parents Guide(1996) London Souvenir
Press Alan Train ADHDHow to deal with very
difficult children (1996) London Optima The
British Psychological Society Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder A psychological response
to an evolving concept (1996) Report of a
working party of the British Psychological Society
22What can I read about ADHD
Hartmann, Thom Complete Guide To ADHD A Hunter
in a Farmer's World Underwood Books, Grass
Valley, (2000) Reif, Sandra
How To Reach and Teach ADD/ADHD Children
Practical Techniques, Strategies, and
interventions for Helping Children With Attention
Problems and Hyperactivity Center For Applied
Research in Education, New York, (1993)
Phelan, Thomas W. 1,2,3 Magic Effective
Discipline for Children 2-12 Child Management
inc. (1998)
23Where can I get information?
ADHD Information Services extensive catalogue of
books videos training aids available for parents
and professionals - Andrea Bilbow 0181 905
2013 ADD Update Accenting the positive side
of ADHD- Bi- monthly newsletter for professionals
parents and sufferers of ADHD Gail Miller, 127
Embleton Road Methley Leeds LS26 9DA IPS (
International Psychology services) 17 High street
Hurstpierpoint W Sussex England BN6 9TT Tel
10273 832 181 www.devdis.com
24Where can I get support?
Support groups The following national
organisations can supply current information on
local support groups AD/HD Family support groups
UK phone 01373 826045 Hyperactivity Childrens
support group Sally Bunday 71 Whyke
Lane Chichester Sussex PO19 2LD Overload 58
North Fort Street Edinburgh 013 555 4967
25Where can I find information on the internet?
ADDISS charity website http//www.addiss.co.uk
ADD/ADHD online support group
http//www.adders.org/ ADDnet UK
http//www.web-tv.co.uk ADD warehouse
http//www.addwarehouse.com CHADD (children and
adults with ADD) http//chadd.org Hyperactive
Childrens support group http//hacsg.org.uk
Where can I find information on video?
Understanding ADD AVD Australian Video publishers
Dr Chris Green Beyond the ADD Myth Classroom
strategies and techniques Dr Thomas Armstrong
http//www.thomasarmstrong.com/books_videos.htm
26Next steps
27Courses available
030479 Attention Deficit Disorder An introductory
course for primary school staff 030480 Attention
Deficit Disorder An introductory course for
secondary school staff
28Contacts
- Linda Corlett Educational Psychologist, City of
Edinburgh Psychological Services - and other ADHD Project Team members
- Lorna Jones Project Co-ordinator and Community
Nurse Specialist - Georgina Craig Specialist Teacher
- Dr Desni Nixon Staff Grade Psychiatrist
- Team Secretary contactable at the Project Teams
base at Forteviot - telephone 0131 536 0197