Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD affects 5% of all children in the UK. The three main symptoms of ADHD are:

• Inattention
• Hyperactivity
• Impulsivity

ADHD is a lifelong disability which can be treated with medication or managed. It affects all areas of life, especially educational performance and social & emotional development.  Therefore ADHD children may struggle keeping up with school work.  Their disruptive behaviour frequently gets them in trouble with teachers and their erratic behaviour often leads to social problems.  This in turn may lead to a poor self-image and low self esteem.  Both these disorders make it difficult for the children to succeed in school because of the behavioural difficulties that result from these conditions, despite the fact that most children with these conditions are intelligent enough to be educated in mainstream schools.

Children with these disorders are more likely to be expelled from school for their behaviour yet they have the intellect to be educated within a mainstream setting.  We live in a blame culture that says someone must be blamed for anything that goes wrong and it is usually the parents who are blamed for their children’s behaviour, despite the fact that ADHD is not caused by bad parenting.

 

Autistic Spectrum Disorder Information

Autism is one of many conditions that can come with ADHD (“co-morbid  conditions”) and make it harder for children to reach their potential. We are here to  support parents as they strive to get the best for their children within the current system.

The websites www.nas.org.uk and  www.autismnz.org.nz/autism.php have concise descriptions of Autistic Spectrum disorders:

“An Autism Spectrum Disorders is a life-long developmental disability affecting social and communication skills. People with the disability can also have accompanying learning disabilities; but, whatever their general level of intelligence, everyone with the condition shares a difficulty in making sense of the world.

“Because of the differing degrees of severity and variety of manifestations, the term Autism Spectrum Disorder is often used to describe the whole range.

“This term includes Asperger’s syndrome, which is a form of autism at the higher functioning end of the autism spectrum.”