Student Engagement & Wellbeing News

WELLBEING

Neurodiversity - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

In the last edition of the newsletter, we looked at Autism and Developmental Language Disorders (DLD). In this edition, we will explore Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

ADHD

Scientists have found unique differences in the structure, chemistry, and networks of the ADHD brain. These differences can explain many of the symptoms and challenges ADHDer's experience.

You can be an ADHDer and be:

• creative problem solvers,
• good public speakers,
• energetic and enthusiastic,
• have good conceptual skills and intuition, and
• find focussing attention on some tasks easier than others.

ADHDers are not all alike: the nature of the learner's profile and its impact on learning will vary significantly. Teachers will spend time getting to know their learners, building rapport and may reach out to parents to discuss their children's particular needs, strengths and interests. If staff speak to you about your child, this is a great thing! It means we are reaching out to find more ways to connect with and target learning and support to your child. 

ADHDers have learning traits that are positive additions to the classroom. Some of these may include:

• Demonstrate creativity and resourcefulness for example, sharing imaginative ideas to solve challenging problems.
• Be flexible and take initiative
• Encompass a strong sense of competence and willingness to problem solve to overcome obstacles.
• Have good ability in completing tasks and actions requested individually of them.
• Be willing to share new ideas and ask relevant questions

These chemical messages vary in intensity thus creating difficulty in attention and focus, organisation and planning as well as initiation and cessation, regulation and inhibition. The neuro-chemical differences can influence quality and quantity of sleep, task completion in school and friendships.

It can be difficult to identify ADHD specific indicators, as ADHD can co-occur with other learning difficulties such as developmental language disorder (DLD), dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.

ADHD and giftedness can also present together. However, it is also possible for a student to present ADHD behaviours when in fact the learner is gifted or misunderstood.

Anna Gbikpi-Benissan