Understanding ADHD

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting behaviour and concentration.

It can be diagnosed in children or adults, and can show up in a variety of ways, often so that people appear restless, impulsive or distracted. Typically, ADHD falls into one of three categories:

• Hyperactive and impulsive ADHD is often characterised by physical activity, like fidgeting, struggling to stay still, talking a lot and interrupting others.
  
• Inattentive ADHD refers to difficulties in maintaining attention, which can often present as being easily distracted, appearing forgetful or finding it hard to organise and work.
  
• Combined ADHD refers to a mix of both of the above.

Remember that although the symptoms of ADHD may be behavioural, but that doesn’t mean your child is deliberately misbehaving.


What’s “the cause” of ADHD?

The exact causes of ADHD are still unclear. Some behaviours that you may feel are signs of ADHD can be a part of normal child development, behaviour and learning. When children are young it can be particularly difficult to distinguish these behaviours, and it’s okay to take time to build a full picture.


Keeping a record

It’s often recommended to keep a record of your child’s behaviour - we built Heba’s journal to help with this. You can use it spot patterns, and you can easily share this with a care professional.


What’s “masking”?

Sometimes children’s behaviours may change in certain circumstances - for example, you may feel your child is hiding their symptoms at school. This is known as masking. It may mean that the school is not picking up on the same signs as you. Don’t be afraid to raise these thoughts with your school so they can share their views as well.


Who to talk to if you think your child may have ADHD?

There are a number of points of contact you can reach out to learn more about your child’s behaviour as it may relate to ADHD. In particular, you can speak to:

• Your child’s school - they will have a special educational needs coordinator (SENCO), or equivalent role, which can help you navigate the next steps
• Your GP / primary care provider - who will ask more about your child’s behaviour and recommend available options, such as the route to a diagnosis

There’s no single, definitive test for ADHD. Usually, a diagnosis will be based on a combination of observations, questionnaires and discussion.


What next?

If your child has received a diagnosis of ADHD, there are a number of ways they can be supported. This includes:

• Therapy - such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Medication - these are not a cure for ADHD, but they can help manage symptoms
• Parenting support - there are courses to help parents look after their child in the home, with specific strategies & skills

There are brilliant organisations working to support children with ADHD and their parents where you can go to learn more, such as the ADHD Foundation and Young Minds. You may also want to look for local services, such as your Local Parent Carer Forum or Local Offer in the UK.