So research from Cardiff Univeristy, published in the Lancet this week, offered further evidence to suggest the link between ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and a genetic anomaly in some children. The debate between genetic and environmental causes for the condition continue, as do the preferred measures for controlling the behaviour of those affected - medication or psychological intervention.
Having taught teenagers diagnosed as ADHD and ADD (attention-deficit without the hyperactive behaviour), one thing we can confirm is the need for teachers to carefully consider the implications of these conditions in their approach to whole group teaching. Classroom management and personalised learning take on a different perspective with learners who can struggle more than most to pay attention, sit still, concentrate on an extended task and work quietly independently.
The impact of medication (such as Ritalin) on young people can be profound. Recent medical advice has seemed to move away from the 'over prescription' of this powerful drug, although many users find it the only key to successful mainstream study. The debate for teachers around the use and misuse of these type of drugs is also a growing issue. If not prescribed, Ritalin is a class B drug in the UK, meaning possession can lead to a five-year prison sentence.
For more information on ADHD, check out the National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service
1 comment:
I found this post really interesting. A while ago i was reading about an article about diagnosing children with ADHD and ADD. Ken Robinson(world speaker on education and creativity) said until they named the disorder ADHD from the 1950s children were being given drugs to 'numb' them and this will restrict them from thinking, moving and operating in everyday lives. This isolated them from their peers and the rest of society. Now the drugs are given to children like taking vitamin and most parents do not know that the main subtance are class B drugs.
The reason why this happened to children was because they became bored very easily. Jim Carrey was diagnosed with ADD as his teacher thought he was immature, he could try harder,imaginative, a daydreamer and will not amount to anything. He is now a well known actor and making more people happy with his humour and imagination than that teacher who told him that.
Teachers needs to take a step back and have the patience,take the time with children and their parents to come up with alternative solutions in dealing with children in the classroom before the amount of children diagnosed wrongly/ unfairly duplicates. it could be their methods do not engage that child. it could be all their classroom activites are theory based. It could be the environment is too retsricting (classroom).
I believe education should not be restricted to the one method of teacher but exhaust every area.
Plus parents need to start actively getting involved with self development of their children. This society (21st century) is moving so rapidly that we need to equipped children with the knowledge to be mulitfunctional and not suppress their creativity.
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