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2. WHAT IS ADHD/ADD?
2.1. ADHD stands for Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorder. Children with ADHD exhibits the following key characteristics:
- Inattentive
- Difficulty following through on instructions and in organizing tasks
- Failing to give close attention and avoiding careless mistakes
- Difficulty in listening to others or focusing on required work without being distracted or interrupting
- Losing things necessary for tasks or activities
- Difficulty in getting work done in class and completing homework
- Avoid tasks that require substained mental effort
- Forgetful in daily activities
- Hyperactive
- Cannot sit still, walk around in class, cannot stay seated to complete one meal
- Like a walking tornado - creating a mess wherever he goes
- Fidgeting with hands or feet or squirming in their seat
- Difficulty remaining seated when required to do so
- Has difficulty in playing quietly / talk excessively
- Disrupting the class
- Impulsive
- Difficulty in waiting for turn in tasks, games or group situations; Wants things now
- Blurting out answers to questions before questions have been completed
- Often interrupts or intrudes on others
2.2. Some children are inattentive and impulsive without much hyperactivity. They are termed as having Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Children with ADD are like those with ADHD, except that they do not exist much of the hyperactivity symptoms.
2.3. Other list of problems encountered with a ADHD/ADD child include:
- Sloppy / illegible handwriting
- Getting into fights with peers
- Low self-esteem
- Aggressive / immature.
2.4. ADHD/ADD is usually diagnosed when the child is at the age of 6-10 years old, although some children may be diagnosed earlier or later.
2.5. About 3% of the student population have ADHD/ADD. This means that there are likely to be 1 or 2 ADHD child(ren) in each class of 40 students.
2.6. Boys are 4-6 times more likely than girls to have ADHD/ADD. Hence in this handbook, the male gender will be used more often when referring to the ADHD/ADD child.
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