ADVANCING LEARNING through INCLUSION
ADHD
What does ADHD involve?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a minimal brain dysfunction that causes difficulties in different attention processes and in some cognitive-behavioural areas, producing some core symptoms such as:
Attention deficit
ADHD does not produce difficulties in all the attention processes. It occurs mainly in two types of attention processes that cause difficulties:
Sustained or long-term attention: maintaining concentration over time.
Selective attention: focusing attention on a particular object for some time while simultaneously ignoring distractions and irrelevant information.
In contrast, a person with ADHD works well when doing tasks that require:
Divided attention: responding simultaneously to multiple tasks. For example, studying while listening to music or watching a film while chatting on your mobile. People with ADHD are able to perform simultaneous tasks such as these very well. If allowed to do some tasks that are not motivating for them in this way, it can reduce the possibility of them postponing the tasks.
Hyperfocus: students with ADHD can maintain concentration for a long time on tasks that motivate and engage them.
Impulsivity
Impulsivity can cause problems for some people with ADHD such as interrupting teachers or other students as they’re speaking, jumping their turn, saying or doing things without thinking, etc.
Dysfunction in working memory
Working memory allows people to retain, recall, and process information in the short term, for example when reading, writing, etc. It involves various executive functions. For people with ADHD, they experience difficulties with some of these functions. The most important ones are:
Planning and organising study.
Time management.
Sequencing complex tasks and following the steps necessary to carry them out successfully.
Inner voice or dialogue to be able to control behavior and verbal utterances (“Be quiet”, “Pay attention.”, “Think.”, “Read it again.”, etc.)
Hiperactivity
Hyperactivity is a symptom that some, not all people with ADHD, experience. As a result, there are two types of ADHD: Inattentive or Combined.
Hyperactivity occurs when the brain is overactive in an attempt to self-stimulate. For this reason, medication significantly reduces hyperactivity. As the brain matures and more areas are activated, hyperactivity is also reduced.
ENABLING STRATEGIES
Teachers are key to building students’ self esteem. Well-chosen words will help you to achieve this goal. You can do this by emphasising students’ strengths, for example, his or her capacity for work, cheerfulness, generosity, intelligence, sociability, respect for others, fun side, creativity, sportiness, kindness, sincerity, etc.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
All curricular content that can be worked on using tablets or computers improves attention and output.
SEQUENCED EXAMS
Sequencing exams with one question per page helps students with ADHD. Some students achieve better results in oral exams.
TIME MANAGEMENT
It is very important that students learn to manage time. Having a clock on their desk as well as a visible classroom clock will help them manage their time.
SMALL GROUP WORK
If students need to work in groups, it is best that there are 2 or 3 students maximum per group.
READING
Teach students to read sentences correctly. Use underlining to highlight verbs, actions or relevant data for students to be able to respond correctly.
TUTORIALS
Teachers who have a good relationship with their students could organise 10-minute tutorials per week to help students in areas (academic, personal, etc.) that they are having difficulty in.
ACTIVITIES TO COMBAT TIREDNESS
When possible and depending on the age of students, games that involve building, painting, using plasticine, folding paper (origami), etc. can be good ways to combat tiredness.
POSITIVE FEEDBACK
Positive feedback is key. You could, for example, draw smiley faces in younger students’ notebooks or give older students a written post-it.
RULES
It is also important that students know the rules, best given in written format. They can also be displayed in the classroom with little text, using images to communicate the rule (raised hand to ask a question, etc.) Bear in mind that too many rules make it difficult for students to follow them.
REMEMEBER…
Have students sit at the front
Give written instructions
Reinforce through gestures
Winking, touching the shoulder, contracts to establish behaviour, restricted use of worksheets/points systems, etc.
Ensure that students have everything written down in their notebooks
They can do it with the student sitting next to them.
Allow students to go to the toilet or run errands.
These activities allow students to move.
“A teacher who understands and helps students with ADHD will gain the respect and admiration they deserve.”
With the collaboration of…
AAMNDAH
Asociación de Afectados en Madrid Norte por Déficit de Atención e Hiperactividad en Alcobendas
“We became an association in 2013 to improve the quality of life of our children and to help and guide families.
Our aim is to help all those affected in the north of Madrid and thereby improve lives through integration, visibility and equal opportunities. “
