What to do if your child has been diagnosed with ADHD

An ADHD diagnosis can cause fear and uncertainty, especially in the beginning. However, it can be very helpful to look into the subject in order to work together with the child, and find solutions together. It is important to know that nobody is 'guilty' for the diagnosis.

There are now various support and treatment options that help people affected with ADHD to lead a normal life. In the following article you will learn what ADHD is, what the diagnosis means for the child’s family and what factors can help the child succeed in school.

What is ADHD?

ADHD - these four letters stand for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Research now shows that ADHD is a complex developmental delay of the self-management system in the brain. Essentially, this means that stimuli are filtered differently in people with ADHD and that the brain is overwhelmed in certain areas. As a result, the brain develops in a way that makes it more difficult to develop important learning pathways.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually appear in childhood and adolescence, but the diagnosis can often be made later. Contrary to the idea that ADHD is a developmental disorder limited to childhood, there is now scientific evidence that adults can also suffer from the condition.

Symptoms can include:

• Impaired attention and concentration
• Impulsivity
• Marked agitation, either inwardly directed (hypoactivity) or outwardly visible (hyperactivity).

There are many other possible symptoms, which present themselves in different ways, depending on age and gender. In general, it can be said that people diagnosed with ADHD have a different style of perception and reaction.

ADHD and the family

ADHD can have a big impact on family interactions. Family members often need to show a lot of patience and understanding. However, they also have the right to rest, to take breaks and to have their own life. Take time for yourself, meet friends and go for a walk if you need to distract yourself. You also need to have enough strength to support your child.

Try to stick to a regular daily schedule to reduce the burden on the family. Create a climate of trust: everyone can communicate their needs and problems. If someone feels neglected, this should be discussed so that solutions can be reached together. It is important for each child to recognise and set their own limits: give your child their own space and allow them to withdraw.

ADHD in school

For children with ADHD, school can quickly become a source of stress: a lot of children all with their own needs, a lot of noise, and on top of that, they’ll often have to sit still for a long time. Therefore, solving problems, thinking about homework and studying in advance for exams can quickly become overwhelming.

Children with ADHD tend to leave their notebooks and books lying around, forget their homework and it is not uncommon for letters to parents to not reach their destination. These are just some of the problems faced by children with ADHD.

Creating and maintaining order is a complex task for children with ADHD. When all you see is the mountain of work and you don't know where to start, it can be very overwhelming and lead to tasks being completed in a chaotic way or not at all. However, there are various strategies that you can practise at home with children so that they learn how to do their tasks independently.

The most important thing is structure and perseverance. Children with ADHD often have to practise and repeat processes more than other children. This means that parents or carers also need to be patient and not give up.

In practical terms, the following strategies can be helpful in creating an organisational system:

• Working with colours. Children with ADHD often work well with colours. So try to introduce a colour system to create order in the school day. Ask your child which subject corresponds to which colour. Then organise notebooks, pencils and textbooks in these colours. Textbooks can be wrapped in coloured paper to match the colour code but still be protected. Then you can print out their timetable and colour code which lessons they have each day. Your child can then check the timetable each day to see which coloured items should be put in their school bag.
• Establish an after-school routine. Children with ADHD tend to forget their homework. So try to establish a routine for doing schoolwork in advance to avoid it being put off until it is forgotten. You can set aside time each day after school to do the homework together at first and independently after a while.
  
  Example of an after school routine: After school, your child will want a break! Provide a snack and let them rest for around 30 minutes. Then they should empty their backpack and sort everything into their colour system. Once everything is sorted, they can start doing their homework.

Conclusion

Of course, introducing such a filing system and colour coded routine is not easy and requires a lot of time, practice and patience. But once you have succeeded in getting your child to keep order independently at school, it can be a huge relief for both you and your child.

For more information you can contact ADHD UK ADHD UK or the ADHD Foundation - The Neurodiversity Charity.