How the ADHD 'Backpack' Affects Every Aspect of Life
Think of ADHD like a backpack that some kids carry. Most kids can be fidgety, make quick decisions without thinking, or find it hard to focus every now and then. But for kids with ADHD, it's like this backpack is so heavy it makes doing everyday things, like schoolwork or chores, much harder. They might feel this weight at school and at home too.
ADHD, short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is about the brain working differently. It influences how someone pays attention, stays calm, and controls actions.
ADHD is something you'd notice early on, way before someone becomes a teenager. Sometimes you might spot it when they're really little, even in play-school. But figuring out for sure if it's ADHD usually happens when they're a bit older.
When kids are young, this ADHD backpack might make them act without thinking or super energetic. But as they grow, during secondary school and as they get more mature, it's less about being super active and more about finding it really tough to pay attention.
Even though some kids might find ways to lighten this backpack as they grow up, around half to most of them will still feel its weight well into adulthood. It's important for us as teachers to understand this, so we can help make their backpack feel a bit lighter every day.
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ADHD makes it tough for children to pay attention, stay still, and control what they do. This can make things difficult in the classroom, when making friends and at home.
If we don't spot it early and help manage it, ADHD can cause big problems now and when they grow up. It's something people are born with, and it sticks around, affecting how they learn and behave from being kids to adults.
It is very common for ADHD to co-exist with other challenges like dyslexia or autism. Kids with ADHD might have a hard time paying attention, sitting still, or might do things on impulse, like acting before thinking. If a child often gets distracted, struggles to focus or sleep, or forgets what they're doing or their belongings, they might be showing signs of ADHD.
ADHD symptoms include:
- Inattention
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsiveness (or acting without thinking)
Inattention - get easily distracted or might find it hard to focus, listen to instructions, or finish their work. They often daydream, move slowly, or forget things like homework.
Hyperactive - might squirm a lot, get bored quickly, and struggle to stay seated or quiet. They may rush through things and make seemingly careless mistakes. They might run, jump, or play too roughly at the wrong times. Sometimes, they might unintentionally bother/ disrupt others with their actions.
Impulsive - Consistently acting too quickly before thinking. They often interrupt, might push or grab, and find it hard to wait. They may do things without asking for permission, take things that aren't theirs, or act in risky ways. They may have emotional reactions that seem too intense for the situation.
As children grow, their attention, activity, and self-control develop gradually. Kids learn these skills with help from parents and teachers. But some kids don't get much better at paying attention, settling down, listening, or waiting. When these behaviours continue and cause problems at school, home, and with friends, it may be ADHD.
How Is ADHD Diagnosed?
If you think your child might have ADHD, start by visiting their doctor. The doctor will check things like eyesight and hearing to rule out other reasons for the symptoms.
To figure out if your child has ADHD, the doctor will ask about your child's health, how they act, and what they do. They'll talk to you and your child to see what you've both noticed.
You might also fill out some forms about your child's actions. Based on this, the doctor will decide if you should see a specialist like a psychiatrist, psychologist, or paediatrician for more tests. You don't need to see a doctor first to get checked for ADHD, but they can guide you to the right help, including mental health services for kids and adults.
Still, they can refer you to appropriate services, including CAMHS (Child and Adult Mental Health Services).
Try this guide we made to start taking action today:
Seeing a Specialist
A wide range of specialists can assist with treatment, including social workers, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, psychotherapists, and behavioural therapists.
Here is some information on clinicians in Ireland and UK.
How is ADHD Treated?
Treatment for ADHD usually includes:
- Medicine. The medicine helps the brain pay attention, slow down, and use more self-control.
- Behaviour therapy. Therapists can help children develop the social, emotional, and planning skills that are falling behind with ADHD.
- Parent coaching. Through coaching, parents learn the best ways to respond to behaviour problems. Education Elephant has just the course for you.
- School support. Teachers can help kids with ADHD do well and enjoy school more.
It can be challenging for children who do not get treatment for ADHD to reach their full potential. For example, it may lead to low self-esteem, depression, oppositional behaviour, school failure, risk-taking behaviour, or family conflict.
How Can Parents Help?
If your child is diagnosed with ADHD:
- Be involved. Learn all you can about ADHD. Follow the treatment your child's health care provider recommends. Go to all guided therapy visits.
- Give medicines safely. If your child takes ADHD medicine, always give it at the recommended time and dose. Keep the medication in a safe place.
- Work with your child's school and teacher. Meet often with teachers to find out how your child is doing. Work together to help your child succeed.
- Parent with purpose and warmth. Learn what parenting approaches are best for a child with ADHD — and which can make ADHD worse. Talk openly and supportively about ADHD with your child. Focus on your child's strengths and positive qualities.
- Connect with others for support and awareness. Join a support group to get updates on treatment and other information. ADHD can improve when kids get treatment, eat healthy food, get enough sleep, exercise, and have supportive parents who know how to respond to ADHD.
Reading this we hope you feel enlightened in the beautiful world of ADHD and neurodivergence, it doesn't take long to learn a lot! We hope you can take something away from this article to inspire you in the classroom or at home and that you have learned as much as we have from writing these blogs.
Don't forget your free guide we made to help you start taking action today:
Learn More, Teach Better
If you are looking to dive deeper into ADHD, our self-paced courses on support strategies, interventions and the roadmap to help you thrive in working with children with ADHD at home and in the classroom you can find our courses related to ADHD here.
Happy Learning from The Team at Education Elephant! 🐘
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P.s If you are on LinkedIn so are we! We condense ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism, Dyspraxia and more into bite size pieces so you don't have to eat the whole elephant in one.
Don't worry we don't mean really eat the Elephant!
Take the week to learn more about ADHD, and you'll see you already know more than you think! It's all about putting names to those behaviours and emotions we've all seen before.
You've got this; we're just here to help you connect the dots and help you support children as best you can! 🐘
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