Types of Learning Difficulties

 

ADHD - Help, Support & Resources

Family reading book.

Parents and toddler son reading book.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder appearing as behavioural difficulties.

ADHD, Help, Support and Resources. Plus extensive information on ADHD, including:

What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD?  Definition of ADHD; What Causes ADHD?; Indicators of ADHD; ADHD Assessment / Test; ADHD Aids & Equipment; ADHD Treatment; Software for ADHD; Help,  Support, Resources and an ADHD Book List.

You will also find a section on Looking for schools that specialise in ADHD; People who can assess / test for ADHD; Test Centres for ADHD and how to find an Occupational Therapist in your area.

 

What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behaviour disorder.  It has been known about for a long time.  Not everyone with ADHD will have the ‘hyperactivity’ part of this disorder.

In 2010, research in The Lancet, concluded that ADHD was a *neurological condition.

As with other problems, mentioned on this site, there are different degrees of severity. A large proportion of children with ADHD display features of dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia.

A child who can’t concentrate; moves around frequently; has poor school performance (in contrast with his intelligence) and has disruptive behaviour may be suffering from ADHD. There is evidence to suggest that children with this problem could eventually be expelled from school.

At times all children may be overactive and inattentive, but hyperactive children are disruptive nearly all the time. ADHD is thought to affect between 3% and 5% of the school-age population. Some evidence exists to show that like, dyslexia and dyspraxia, some 90% of suffers are boys.

People with ADHD appear to be intensely restless and impulsive – if they think about it – they do it, sometimes with disastrous results! They have a hard time focusing on things and get bored after just a few minutes. They often find it difficult paying attention for the shortest possible time, thereby causing problems with organisation and completing routine tasks.

You do not grow out of ADHD, but you do learn to modify your behaviour.

*neurological condition

Definition of ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehaviour disorder.  It has been known about for a long time. It has undergone several name changes, one time being known as; ‘hyperkinesias’ (Latin derivative for ‘super active’), hyperactivity, and latterly, ADHD.  Not everyone with ADHD will have the ‘hyperactivity’ part of this disorder.

As with other problems, mentioned on this site, there are different degrees of severity. A large proportion of children with ADHD display features of dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia.

Definition of ADHD

*Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurobehavioral disorder characterized by a combination of inattentiveness, distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsive behaviour. More than half the children diagnosed with ADHD continue to have symptoms during their adolescent years and into adulthood.

*Psychology Today

 

 

ADHD & Medication

 

ADHD & Medication (Ritalin)

Millions of children each year are diagnosed with ADD / ADHD, and often, as a last resort, these children are put on Ritalin.

A study reveals that Pycnogenol, (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, reduces ADHD in children. This research shows Pycnogenol balances stress hormones, which lowers adrenaline and dopamine, resulting in a decrease of ADHD.

Adults & ADHD
  • Most of the features of ADHD in childhood remain.
  • Employment may be difficult because of relationship problems and poor memory.
  • Antisocial behaviour may become so extreme it may lead to trouble with the law and to excess alcohol consumption.
  • Poor self-esteem may be distressing.

Although you do not grow out of ADHD, you can learn to modify behaviour.

ADHD - Design a Play Space

We all want to keep our children safe and still provide the most interesting environment for then.  The difference of, course, is all children are different and while they may need extra thick crayons when they are one or two years of age, they soon grow out of that.

However, while we have to bear in mind that is the case, I am talking here about designing the, (what I call the ‘bones’) of the playroom.

Children that are autistic for instance may need a room that has calming features, colours, lights, sensors etc.  While the child with ADHD, may need more activities where s/he can physically use up more energy, maybe a trampoline etc.

Whatever your child requires has to be taken into account when you design this playroom and has to be able to adapt as they grow older.

While I am not trying to ‘teach parents to suck eggs’, I am merely pointing out that if we can identify needs at the beginning you will get the layout of the playroom correct at the start of the project.

I read an excellent article a week or so ago, which covered most of the things I mentioned above and while this is written under the ADHD section, it could really be under any of the sections on my website.

This article was written by Stacey Rubin, and I have put the link here.

ADHD Posts