2. INDIVIDUALLY / IN 2 GROUPS. The main characteristics of ADHD. 30 min.
1) Do the following TEST to see if you have ADHD.
Additional information: ADHD Facts
2) Read the following list of typical characteristics and say which of them you have come across in your students or acquaintances:
a) hyperactivity:
- inability to sit still, constant movements in hands, bouncing on the chair;
- disobedience, agression, anger;
- a need to change activities quickly, if they are not to their liking;
- a difficulty not to talk;
- a tendency to do risky actions;
- angst, the inner lack of serenity;
- inaccuracy in doing assignments.
b) attention deficit:
- lack of attention to the teacher's commands, to the direct address, dreamliness;
- unfinished activities with the normal intellectual abilities;
- inability to focus if an activity is not interesting;
- missing on important details, not seeing mistakes while revising a written work;
- the lack of or a weak self-organisation;
- forgetfulness (concerning planned meetings, things);
- a tendency to get distracted.
c) impulsivity:
- half-baked ideas, the lack of self-control;
- interrupting, finishing other people's utterances;
- inability to wait for their turn or a reward for a well-done job;
- instability of behaviour, offensive names and comments;
- abundent emotional reactions;
- snatching objects, pushing others, interference in other people's games;
- inadequate priorities.
3) People can have 1, 2 or all 3 clusters of characteristics. To understand if a person has ADHD special tests are used, e.g. Conners-3.
Additional information about diagnostics and treatment:
Ведення дітей та осіб молодого віку із синдромом дефіциту уваги та гіперкінетичними розладами
Teachers lack professional expertise to make a diagnosis but they can:
- observe their pupils. In case of ADHD the characteristics will manifest regularly not depending on the willingness of a student to change them. Watch the video and say what characteristics you have seen: ADHD In Children (6:47)
- apply the following TEST and compare the indices with what their students do in the class.
Additional videos:
ADHD As A Difference In Cognition, Not A Disorder: Stephen Tonti at TEDxCMU
Strategies to Support Students with ADHD | Caroline Odom | TEDxYouth@MBJH
