WHERE CAN I GOTO FIND OUT MORE?

Useful Websites

! The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service, provides‘people friendly’ information and resources about ADHD: http://www.addiss.co.uk

! ADDers ( Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity online support Group) objective is topromote awareness of ADHD, provide free practical help and information tosufferers (adults and children) and their families: http://www.adders.org

! SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) aim to improve the quality ofhealth care in Scotland by developing guidelines to provide recommendations foreffective health care, and facilitating their implementation in practice. More detailsfrom their website at: www.sign.ac.uk.

Reading Material(For parents/carers/teachers)

! ‘Understanding ADHD – A Parents Guide to Attention Deficit HyperactivityDisorder in Children’Dr Christopher Green & Dr Kit Chee. Published byVermillion[ISBN No. 978-0-091-81700-8]

! ‘Putting the Brakes On’ - Activity BookPatricia O. Quinn, Judith M. Stern. Published by Magination Press. [ISBN No. 978-1433804410]]

! ‘AVolcano in My Tummy: Helping Children to Handle Anger’ElaineWhitehouse. Published by New Society Publishers.[ISBN No. 978-0865713499]

The ADHD Aberdeen and North East Family Support Group hosts Parent to ParentEvenings, Listening Ear Evenings and Information Evenings as well as maintaining a libraryof books which are of interest to parents/carers and teaching staff.

For further information :www.adhd-aberdeen.org.uk

WhatisADDandADHD?

ADD(AttentionDeficitDisorder)andADHD(AttentionDeficitHyperactivityDisorder)arerecognisedmedicalconditionswhichaffectthefunctioningofcertainareasofthebrain.

Thekeyfeaturescanbeacombinationof:

!Inattention!Impulsivity!Hyperactivity

ADDandADHDmayhaveotheraccompanyingconditionssuchas:

Dyspraxia,Dyslexia,Speech&LanguageDisorder,AutisticSpectrumDisorder,OppositionalDefiantDisorderand/orObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder.

ADD/ADHDWhatistheImpact?

ADD/ADHDisalongtermcomplexconditionthataffectslearningandbehaviourrightthroughschooldaysandbeyond.

IndividualswithADD/ADHDcansucceedinlife.

Forachildtoachievehis/herfullpotentialitisimportantthatthereisearlyidentificationsothatsupport,whetherbehavioural,psychologicaland/ormedicalcanbeputinplace.Somechildrenmaybeprescribedmedication.(ForfurtherinformationseeSIGNGuidelines,www.sign.ac.uk)

ADHD–ACHILD’SVIEW

Irunaround,Ican’tsitstillYouthinkIonlydomywill,Speaking,Ijustdon’tstop,Mymindisalwaysonthehop,IrunIclimb,Ifidgetallthetime,Dangermeansnothingtome,Idon’tunderstandyousee,Igetangryandupset,Youdon’tunderstandmeandIfret,AtschoolI’mpickedon,‘CosIcan’tgettheworkdone,I’mteasedandtoldI’mthick,Whycan’ttheyseeI’msick,Hyperactive,yesthat’sme,ButI’mnotbad,can’tyousee,Friendsarefewandfarbetween,Peoplewithmedon’twanttobeseen,Sothenexttimeyouseemerunningwild,StopandthinkIcouldjustaseasilybeyourchild!

AnneMathers

“WhatshouldIdoifIthinkachildoryoungpersonmayhaveADD/ADHD?”

!IfyoususpectthatachildmayhaveADD/ADHDyoumaywishtoalerttheparent/carer/teachersothatthechildcanbereferredtotheschooldoctororfamilyGPleadingtoreferralfordiagnosis.

ADHD

!Makeuseofindividualisedtimetable

!Encourageenthusiasmandideas

!Buildonstrengths

!Giveresponsibilities

!Keepchangestoaminimum

!Explainandpreparepupilforunavoidablechanges

!Settimelimittasks

!Giveshortclearinstructions

!EnsureHome/SchoolLinksismaintained

!Consistently,reinforcerulesandsetboundaries

!Givemeaningfulpraiseandencouragement

!Practise‘plannedignoring’

!Catchthembeinggood!

!Choosegoodrolemodels

!Structure‘FreeTime’

!Communicateregularlywithparent/carers

!Taketimetogettoknowthechild

!Listentoandrespectthechild’sview

!Beconsistentlyfairandnon-judgemental

!Refocuswhendistracted

!Encourageuseof‘TimeOut’

!Keepnote-taking/copyingtaskstoaminimum

!Checkpupil’sunderstandingandprogressinsettask

!Involvepupilinplanningandsettingtargets

andagreesuccesscriteria

!Provideopportunitiesformovementwithinclass

!Varyteachingstyle

!Recogniseandcaterforpupil’spreferredlearningstyle

!Allowpupiltorecordworkinavariedandcreativeway

!Beawareof‘triggers’

!Atalltimestrytoavoidconfrontation

!MakeuseofRestorativePractice

STRATEGIE

SFOR

SUPPORT

MyfriendsthinkI

playtoorough.

Mybrainis

buzzing!

DoIhavetosit

onmyownagain?

Iamalways

losingthings.

Thisissoboring!

SometimesIget

over-excited.

anges

I’veforgotten

whattodo.

Ifindithardto

payattention.