ADHD

What is ADHD?

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children, affecting about 3% to 5% of children globally and diagnosed in about 2% to 16% of school aged children. It is a chronic disorder with 30% to50% of those individuals diagnosed in childhood continuing to have symptoms in adulthood. It is at least 4 times more common in boys than it is in girls. Children are usually diagnosed around the age of 7, but symptoms continue into adolescence and adulthood.

If your child has ADHD, it may become more noticeable or get worse when he/she starts school. Your child's learning may be slowed down by a lack of attention and concentration, and he/she may find it harder to make lasting friendships.

Common ADHD symptoms:

• Fidgeting
• Inability to listen or follow instructions
• Talking constantly
• Interrupting others
• Reckless behaviour
• Aggressiveness and poor discipline
• Emotional immaturity
• Irritability
• Making careless mistakes in school work
• Easily distracted
• Unable to sit still or play quietly
• Losing and forgetting things
• Answering questions before they have been fully asked

Of course, many of these symptoms can be seen in children who do not have ADHD; these symptoms are only a problem if they affect your child's social and school life.

How can Leaders are Readers help children with ADHD?

Children with ADHD need a structured and orderly classroom without too many distractions and small groups to help them focus better. They often require extra help with reading, spelling and maths, and do not respond well to change. Leaders are Readers are well aware of this and we ensure that our classes have no more than 12 students, that the lessons are well structured, that students with learning difficulties sit at the front and that these students engage in pair and group work to help them build friendships.

The teachers recognise the need to reward good behaviour and constantly praise students for sitting quietly, participating in class, working hard and making clear progression. Tasks are broken up into workable and attainable steps and the teachers provide examples and specific steps to accomplish each task. As ADHD students respond best to feedback that is immediate, our teachers constantly use positive praise, such as "You're doing a great job". This also prevents children with ADHD from developing low self-esteem.