As a teacher, ADHD is probably nothing new to you. If fact, you probably have children in
your classroom with an ADHD diagnosis. It is estimated that 5-8% of school-aged children have ADHD.
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The term Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder comes from The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
ADHD is not a new disorder. Records reporting symptoms of ADHD date back to 1902. Over the years,
there have been many names for ADHD. These names include Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), hyperkinetic
reaction of childhood, and even "minimal brain dysfunction." Sometimes people still call it ADD.
ADHD is a disorder of what researchers call "executive functioning." Executive functioning refers to the ability to:
plan ahead
focus
switch from one activity to another
wait patiently, and
remember information for a short while.
Most people have trouble with these tasks sometimes. People with ADHD have more trouble than
most people. These problems make their lives very hard. A person can only have ADHD if these problems are
making their lives hard. To be diagnosed with ADHD, these problems need to be present before age 12.
Some children you know with ADHD may have lots of energy, like the energizer bunny, while others may
just get really bored during class and not pay attention. This is because ADHD can look very different in
different children. There are three types of ADHD.
1. 1. Predominately Inattentive Type- Children with this type of ADHD mainly struggle with paying attention, including:
getting easily distracted,
being forgetful,
losing things,
having trouble listening when someone is speaking to them
having trouble doing what they are told.
2. Predominately Hyperactive-Impulsive Type- People with this type of ADHD mainly
struggle with having too much energy and acting too quickly. They have these problems:
fidgeting and squirming in their seat
being frequently on-the-go
talking a lot
inability to wait their turn
interrupting others
3. Combined Type-This is the most common type of ADHD. People with this
type of ADHD have the problems from both types listed above.
Treating ADHD in children is important because it can lead to a better outcome. As a teacher,
you are very important in the treatment of ADHD. You can help children in your classroom with ADHD do well.
It is very important that you keep track of how these students are doing and regularly talk with their parents.
It is also important that you give information to these children's doctors. Children with ADHD do best when
there is a team of caring adults all work together.
If you suspect a child in your class has ADHD, talk to their parents. Encourage their parents
to take them to the doctor and get a full evaluation. Only qualified doctors can diagnose ADHD.
