| |
Basic InformationMore InformationTestsLatest NewsQuestions and AnswersVideosHow to Select the Best School Accommodations for Your Child with ADHDHow to Manage ADHD and AnxietyWhat You Need to Know about Students with ADHD and AnxietyADHD and Eating Tourette Syndrome and ADHD Nutrition in Support of ADHD TreatmentBehavioral Therapy: What it is and finding a therapist Project-Based Learning and ADHD Conditions May Mimic ADHDDepartment of Education Guidance Broadens Understanding of 504 Rights for Kids with ADHD Part I Treating ADHD in the African American CommunityHow to Build Self-Motivation in Teens with ADHDGoal Setting and Keeping for the ADHD BrainNeurofeedback Treatment for ADHDADHD in Preschoolers: What to Look For and How to HelpFYI on ADHD Evaluations Teaching Grit, Perseverance and Frustration Tolerance to Students with ADHD Does my Child Have ADHD? How to Start Eating Well When You Have ADHD 5 Solutions for Common ADHD Social StrugglesIs My High School Student Ready for College? (And Is My College Student Ready to Go Back?) Understanding and Applying the Science of Time ManagementImprove Homework Time with Strategies That Work For ADHD Student Voices: What Really Matters to Young Adults With Learning and Attention Issues 5 Ways Nutrition can Impact ADHD Symptoms 3 Tips for Adjusting to a New Diagnosis of ADHDCreating the Best Learning Environment for Students with ADHD ADHD & Executive FunctioningDepartment of Education Guidance Broadens Understanding of 504 Rights for Kids with ADHD Part II The Choice is in the Details: Medication Options for ADHDCouples with ADHD: Creating Caring Connection amid the ChaosDisclosure and Workplace Accommodations for Individuals With ADHDA Summer At CampSelf-Advocacy Tips For Teens With ADHDADHD: Signs, Symptoms, ResearchADHD & Risk of Adult Drug UseHealth and Life Expectancy in ADHDFocus on ADHDPediatrics: ADHD and Food Allergies ADHD TreatmentADHD: It's a Family AffairDoes Your Child Have ADHD?ADHD in ChildrenLiving with ADHDRise in ADHD Cases in ChildrenWhy is Dating Difficult When You Have ADHDVideo Games, Screens, and ADHD A Potent MixAttention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderAsk the Expert Educator Edition: ADHD & Executive FunctioningAsk the Expert - Academic Evaluations - What Parents Need to Know ADHD and Sibling RelationshipsMedication Treatment for ADHD Using Time Out Treating Childhood ADHD ADHD-friendly Summer Family FUNdamentals Preparing Older Teens for the Road Ahead Tips for Teachers: Tailoring homework to make a difference Your Active Preschooler: Could it be ADHD? A Pattern of Struggles: ADHD and the Older Adult Tips for Teachers: Creating a positive dialogue with parents of students with ADHD Helping Parents & Kids Understand the Social & Emotional Aspects of ADHDSocial and Emotional Concerns of Children with ADHD: Strategies to Help Holiday Gifts for Children with ADHDBehavior Management and Combined Treatment for Children with ADHD Setting Realistic School Expectations for Students with ADHD On Their Own: Helping College Students with ADHD Children's Communication Challenges: Is it Attention, Language or Both? Out-of-School: Parenting During the Summer ADHD in the Workplace: Finding Success Emotions and Motivation in ADHDThe Role of Medication in Managing Children's ADHD Symptoms Top Tips for Combating Stigma and Addressing Myths about ADHD Facts and Myths about ADHD What To Do If Your Child Has ADHD? How Common is ADHD? Children, Meds, and Heart Safety: A Tale of ADHD and Public Health ADHD & Your Child’s Transition to CollegeYour Teen with ADHD: Challenges and Strategies for SuccessAsk the Expert - No more homework battles A Frontline to ADHDUnderstanding Girls with ADHD What is ADHD? What To Do When Your Child With ADHD is BulliedStop the Chaos! Tips for Creating a Peaceful Household When Mom has ADHDIs It ADHD?Ask the Expert - What else can I do? Complementary approaches to ADHD treatment All in a row: Getting your kids with ADHD organized Your Student With ADHD Was Admitted to College, Now what? Evidence-based treatment for ADHD in young children Home life when Mom or Dad has ADHD: Succeeding with your family How does technology affect ADHD? Diagnosing ADHD Helping Your Child Successfully Handle Change Recognizing challenging behaviors in young children: Could it be ADHD? Classroom Managment Supports for ADHD Behaviors in Preschool Settings Getting through to your teenager with ADHD What Everyone Should Know about ADHD Make Learning Exciting: Apps for Executive Functioning Teenagers, ADHD, and Substance Abuse Past Procrastination -- Get Your Kids Organized, Focused and MotivatedAsk the Expert: Late, Lost, and Unprepared: How to Help Your Child with Executive Functioning LinksBook Reviews |
| |
Signs of ADHD in Children at SchoolMargaret V. Austin, Ph.D., edited by C. E. Zupanick, Psy.D.How does ADHD affect my child at school?
Poor school performance and underachievement are almost universal for kids with ADHD. A child who cannot sit still, or otherwise disrupts the classroom, is hard to ignore. A child's hyperactive or impulsive behaviors (e.g., interrupting or touching others) may be incorrectly interpreted as a disciplinary issue; rather than a legitimate mental health issue. As a result, the child may be wrongly judged or punished. Sometimes people attribute these behaviors to diet (e.g., too much sugar), or to permissive parenting. No matter the interpretation, a hyperactive child is hard to ignore. In contrast, the child who appears to be a daydreamer (who actually has ADHD, Predominately Inattentive Type), is often overlooked. Or, if noticed at all, they may be viewed as lazy or unmotivated.
ADHD problems are usually first identified in school settings. This is particularly true for those with hyperactive or impulsive behavior since the teacher must frequently intervene with such students. The fact that hyperactive behaviors are so readily noticed may account for a gender bias. As discussed in another section, girls are less frequently diagnosed with ADHD than are boys. Some researchers think this is because girls more commonly have the "attention deficit" component of ADHD. Boys more commonly have the "hyperactive" component of ADHD. As such, girls with attentional problems are less noticeable than boys with hyperactive behaviors. This is particularly problematic for girls because early identification and treatment of this disorder is strongly linked to better outcomes.
Students with ADHD tend to have lower than average IQ (intelligence) scores. However, this may not reflect their true intelligence. A child with ADHD, no matter what type, is sure to perform poorly on tests requiring concentration; sitting still for long periods; and tests that prohibit breaks or other modifications. Typically, standardized tests are timed. The instructions cannot be repeated. No modifications are allowed. This places students with ADHD at a disadvantage. However, when these testing limitations are removed, these students demonstrate abilities comparable to that of their peers.
Academic tasks that require repetition, problem-solving, and memory (e.g., spelling, math, and writing) are greatly impacted by ADHD symptoms. Learning tasks that do not require concentration and disciplined effort (e.g., comprehension, general information, and vocabulary) are not as greatly affected. Psychologists who evaluate children to determine if they have ADHD often look for such discrepancies in school performance as one indicator of the disorder.
Signs of ADHD in children at school:
- Excessive activity or talking;
- Frequently making disruptive noises;
- Problems following the rules;
- Can't remember more than one thing at a time;
- Difficulty taking turns;
- Inability to sit quietly, even when motivated to do so;
- Poor peer relationships;
- Engaging in activity without consideration of consequences;
- Low frustration tolerance;
- Careless or messy approach to assignments or tasks;
- Failure to complete activities; and,
- Tactile/Kinesthetic learner
Signs of ADHD in teens at school
- Frequently interrupting or changing the subject;
- Poor peer relationships;
- Difficulty sustaining focused attention;
- When focused attention is required, it is experienced as unpleasant;
- Distractible;
- Frequent daydreaming;
- Forgetfulness or absentmindedness;
- Difficulty retaining learned information;
- Continued messy work;
- Rushing through assignments;
- Losing work or failing to turn it in on time;
- Difficulty organizing or prioritizing activities or possessions;
- Frequent impatience;
- Beginning to doubt self and abilities; and,
- Creative thinking
|