Session 1: Understanding your ADHD
What is ADHD?
Have you ever noticed that you struggle to focus? Your mind jumps around from one thought to another, and you find it hard to do one thing at a time?
Many children, especially young children, can struggle to concentrate or sit still for long periods of time. This does not necessarily mean that they have ADHD. Some children are just more restless or excitable than others.
Our ability to focus naturally improves as we get older. For example, a 12-year-old can usually pay attention for much longer than a 2-year-old. It can be helpful to think about how your child compares with children and young people the same age as them.
Children and young people with ADHD will find it much harder to focus and will be more hyperactive and impulsive than their peers of the same age. These challenges can negatively affect their school or home life.
In session 1, we will look at what ADHD is and how it is different from more common challenges children can have with attention, hyperactivity or impulsivity.
How common is ADHD?
Recent studies suggest that around 5 in every 100 children have ADHD.
Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls. For every two boys diagnosed with ADHD, one girl is diagnosed.
This might be because, as children, boys are more likely to show hyperactive and impulsive symptoms. These are more noticeable than inattentive symptoms. Girls may be more likely to cover or mask their difficulties, such as by becoming withdrawn or anxious. This can make it more difficult to diagnose ADHD in girls. It can also lead to them and their families being less likely to seek treatment.
What causes ADHD?
No one is ‘to blame’ for ADHD, and it can’t be ‘prevented’ or ‘cured’. Instead, people with ADHD can benefit from support at school and home.
What are the symptoms of ADHD?
What one child with ADHD experiences will be very different to another child. Think about the other children in your class, they aren’t the same, are they? You have children who are tall, short, and have different-coloured hair. The same is for ADHD, every child will have different symptoms.
Inattention
Do you ever notice the following things happening to you?
- Make simple or seemingly careless mistakes in schoolwork or activities. You might misread or skip questions
- Forget to do something you have been asked to do, like putting your clothes away or brushing your teeth
- Have difficulty planning, managing and organising schoolwork
- Lose or forget things, like your homework or favourite toys
- Daydreaming or getting distracted
- Starting things but finishing them
Hyperactivity and impulsivity
Do you ever notice these things?
- Finding it hard to sit still, especially in class
- Feeling full of energy and needing to move around
- Talking over people or forgetting to wait for your turn
- Doing things without thinking about whether it’s safe
ADHD can make it hard in lots of places, like at school or at home. Sometimes it can seem like you’re being rude or not listening, but you’re probably not doing it on purpose.
It is important that children and young people with ADHD get the support and understanding they need. Parents and teachers can make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people with ADHD by:
- Encouraging their enthusiasm and creativity
- Helping them to engage positively in different environments
Types of ADHD
There are three types of ADHD:
Inattentive only (Used to be called ADD)
Children with this form of ADHD are not overly active. Because they do not disrupt the classroom or other activities, their symptoms may not be noticed. Among girls with ADHD, this form is more common.
Hyperactive/impulsive
Children with this type of ADHD show both hyperactive and impulsive behaviour, but they can pay attention. They are the least common group and are frequently younger.
Combined inattentive + hyperactive/impulsive
Children with this type of ADHD show a number of symptoms in all three dimensions. It is the type that most people think of when they think of ADHD.
Let’s talk!
Is there anything here that seems to match how you feel?
Why not talk to your parents, siblings or teachers about what you’ve learnt here? There may be something they’ve noticed that you haven’t.
Naming your ADHD challenges
Planning ahead
Staying focused
Sitting still for a long time
Following instructions
Keeping track of the time
Thinking before you speak
Processing emotions
Thinking flexibly
Starting or finishing a task
Remembering to use a strategy
Moving from one task to another
Waiting for you turn
Making friends
Remembering things
Sustaining interest in difficult tasks
Listening to other people in conversations
Finding your strengths
Now that we’ve discussed challenges, let’s examine our strengths.
Just because you have some difficulties in some areas, it doesn’t mean you aren’t good at other things. ADHD can have its good side, too.
Fun to be around
Lots of energy
Strong sense of justice (Fair)
Motivating others
Creative
Making quick decisions
Taking risks
Thinking outside the box
Kind and generous
Resilient
Hyperfocus
Which of these strengths seems most like you? Do you sometimes find it hard to remember these? In which way do you think your ADHD helps you most?
Bringing out the best parts of ADHD
Here are some ideas to help bring out the good parts of ADHD:
- Waiting to share your awesome ideas
- Writing your ideas now on paper
- Staying focused on boring or easy things
- Getting started on your work
- Keeping track of all the steps
- Catching your errors
- Keeping things organised
- Moving or fidgeting without disrupting others
Are there any here that you think could help you?
Next session
In our next session, we’ll start looking at ways we can build your toolkit of support.