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Educators find ADHD increasing: A wealth of resources to help students

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10 children in classroom, 3 with arm raised

Most educators would agree that ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is one of the top conditions they see their students grappling with. The numbers have been increasing steadily: While 2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found nearly 10% of children and teens ages 3 to 17 had been diagnosed with ADHD, that share is expected to grow as many students coped with situations during quarantines that exacerbated their condition — or revealed it for the first time.

Dealing with disruption: pandemic conditions fuel ADHD symptoms

While definitive research is still ongoing, anecdotal data supports this notion. For example, the nonprofit CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) reported that calls to its helpline increased by 62% in roughly the first year of the pandemic.

After all, most students appreciate the routine and structure the school environment provides, but it can be even more critical for students with ADHD. Attending school also offers them outlets to socialize away from screens and to burn off excess energy through physical activity. It’s also easier for them to access the support that can help them succeed.

While a return to in-person learning has been beneficial for these students, educators realize the prevalence of students with ADHD can necessitate a shift in classroom management strategies to help them thrive.

Challenges in identifying ADHD in K-12 students

Although ADHD diagnoses are increasing, it can often be complicated to identify whether a student has the condition. One reason why is ADHD’s common association with hyperactivity, which neglects the two additional types of ADHD: inattentive and combined. These categories can manifest very differently. In particular, students with ADHD of the inattentive type might appear to educators and teachers as unmotivated or lazy when in fact they're struggling to focus on their work.

To help identify students who would benefit from an evaluation, educators can watch for those who are having difficulty following instructions or transitioning between assignments, as well as those who appear to be disorganized and forgetful.

Another common misconception is that students who have ADHD can control their behavior and attention. Educators may then attribute their inability to focus or sit still to acting out when it's really the result of a neurodevelopmental disorder.

ADHD is also hard to identify because people with ADHD often have other issues that can impact learning, such as reading disorders, anxiety and depression.

That’s why it’s crucial to know what symptoms to look for. The CDC offers a list of common (and potentially overlooked) ADHD symptoms to help educators to spot them more consistently.

Helping students with ADHD flourish in the school environment

One ongoing debate is whether all students with ADHD should be prescribed medication to manage the condition. While that’s a viable intervention for many students, other students respond well to changes in their environment.
Educators are often pleasantly surprised to discover that the accommodations that make their classroom environment more conducive to learning for students with ADHD help all students learn better. Here are four simple but impactful suggestions:

  1. Develop clear behavioral expectations for your classroom and enforce them consistently. Make sure neither physical nor verbal bullying is tolerated.
  2. Create structure around daily activities. Students can more easily transition when they can anticipate what will happen next.
  3. Offer multisensory directions to reach students who learn in different ways. For example, verbally explain an assignment, then write the instructions on the board.
  4. Provide ample opportunities for physical movement. Incorporate hands-on and other movement-related activities, so students don’t have to sit still at their desks for extended periods.

Resources that can help effectively reach students with ADHD

ADHD may be difficult to classify, but educators have tools at their disposal to make it easier to spot students who have the condition. Universal screening is an inclusive way to identify students who would benefit from academic or behavioral interventions.

Digital tools can help streamline the screening process, and there are a number of screeners available that can be tailored for ADHD. For example, Pearson’s Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-3) has a built-in ADHD screener and can be augmented with the BrownADDScales, a tool tailored to screen for ADHD.

Pearson also offers webinars and other beneficial resources developed by practitioners who specialize in ADHD to further help educators optimize learning for these students.

For more tools, resources and other information to help you help your students perform at their best in the classroom and beyond, visit Pearson’s Mental Health & Anxiety Resource Center.