ADHD

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people’s behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse. ADHD sits within a range of conditions also known as neurodiversity.

Neurodiversity refers to the natural differences between people, particularly in terms of their brain development and cognitive functioning. It recognises that these variations are part of the normal spectrum of human diversity.

Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child’s circumstances change, such as when they start school. Some signs of ADHD are similar to those of Developmental Trauma so for adopted children and young people this is something to bear in mind.

Identity of people with ADHD

Children, young people and adults may have preferences about whether they use person-first (“with ADHD”) or identity-first (for example “ADHDer”) language. This is something to think about with your child or young person to be clear how they prefer to be referred to by others.

Interventions

For children with ADHD, although there's no cure, it can be managed with appropriate educational support, advice and support for parents and affected children, alongside medicine, if necessary. Different services may offer different levels of support however the NICE Guidance suggests environmental changes before medication is considered.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing ADHD in children depends on a set of strict criteria. To receive a diagnosis of ADHD, your child must have 6 or more symptoms of inattentiveness, or 6 or more symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Doctors will also consider levels of anxiety, sleep patterns and general health when assessing for ADHD, it isn’t exactly the same in everyone. If your child also has Developmental Trauma the assessing health professional may also wish to explore this with you, as signs/symptoms can often be similar.

There are different pathways for obtaining a diagnosis of ADHD- please see below for links to local hubs. Clinical Psychologists, Community Paediatricians and Psychiatrists can possibly diagnose ADHD but this depends on local processes.

The NICE Guidelines outline best practice on diagnosis and interventions for children and young people who may have ADHD.

The Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) is no longer willing to fund stand-alone ASD/ADHD assessments and often privately commissioned ADHD assessments are often not accepted by other services. This means your child and family may ‘miss out’ on other support services longer term without having a diagnosis via the NHS. Therefore we recommend that if you think your child may have ADHD you seek advice from your GP regarding next steps.

Interventions recommended by the NHS for ADHD

These depend on the age of your child or young person.

  • Change in environment. This is recommended before medication is prescribed.
  • Support for parents
  • Thinking about your child’s life across all settings

These are key areas mapped out in these guidelines. It is important to note all services will offer different support and may employ a range of health professionals.

For more click the link below:

Recommendations | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management | Guidance | NICE

Therapies recommended by the NHS for ADHD

This will depend on your area, the age of your child and local service provision.

Psychoeducation

Psychoeducation means you or your child will be encouraged to discuss ADHD and its effects. It can help children, teenagers and adults make sense of being diagnosed with ADHD, and can help you to cope and live with the condition. Transforming Partners in Health and Care, working with the ADHD foundation, have produced a set of booklets for children, teenagers and their parents and carers.

University of Edinburgh have developed EPIC for children and young people including information for parents and schools.

Behaviour therapy

Behaviour therapy provides support for carers of children with ADHD and may involve teachers and educational support staff as well as parents. Behaviour therapy usually involves behaviour management, which uses a system of rewards to encourage your child to try to control their ADHD.

If your child has ADHD, you can identify types of behaviour you want to encourage, such as sitting at the table to eat. Your child is then given some sort of small reward for good behaviour.

For teachers, behaviour management involves learning how to plan and structure activities, and to praise and encourage children for even very small amounts of progress.

As this type of therapy is not attachment/trauma related this is not something the ASGSF would fund.

Parent training and education programmes

If your child has ADHD, specially tailored parent training and education programmes can help you learn specific ways of talking to your child, and playing and working with them to improve their attention and behaviour. See resources list for training programmes for parents below.

You may also be offered parent training before your child is formally diagnosed with ADHD.

These programmes are usually arranged in groups of around 10 to 12 parents. A programme usually consists of 10 to 16 meetings, lasting up to 2 hours each.

Being offered a parent training and education programme does not mean you have been a bad parent – it aims to teach parents and carers about behaviour management specific to your child’s presentation and understanding, while increasing confidence in your ability to help your child and improve your relationship.

Social skills training

Social skills training involves your child taking part in role-play situations and aims to teach them how to behave in social situations by learning how their behaviour affects others. This may be helpful for your child, although this is not in the NICE Guidelines.

Using the idea of ‘social stories’ can be useful for you as a parent in working with your child or young person to understand the trickier social cues your child/young person might struggle with. See below:

Social Story for ADHD - SEN Resources (teacher made) (twinkl.co.uk)

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

CBT is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. A therapist would try to change how you or your child feels about a situation, which would in turn potentially change their behaviour. CBT can be carried out with a therapist individually or in a group.

None of these therapies are trauma/attachment based so would not be something the ASGSF would fund.

Other issues- therapy for trauma and/or attachment issues with ADHD

It can be hard for health professionals to work out which issue leads to which presentation, especially when a child has neurodiversity and trauma/attachment issues.

Getting a formal ADHD diagnosis for your child can be helpful in some circumstances- for example if they are having issues at school, you are wanting to apply for respite and/or DLA. It may also help them to get services as an adult if needed.

Some therapeutic interventions Adoption Support offers like Theraplay or DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy) can be offered to all children including those with ADHD. This can have a positive impact on your child’s behaviours and your relationships. We run regular Theraplay workshops if you are interested in this.

The team around your child from wider family, to school, clubs and groups and friends all need to be consistently offering your child support – in turn this will make any therapy offered more effective or give it the best chance possible to help your child.

We do however need to think about the timing of interventions and don’t want to overload your family. At Adoption East Midlands we aim to support you to think about what is manageable for your child and family, which interventions you feel are a priority and in which order.

This is because:

  • There is a risk of overloading your child with too many interventions at the same time and making them feel ‘unfixable’.
  • Offering different interventions at the same time may be confusing to your child, and to you as parents.
  • The wider team around your child needs to work together with a clear plan to ensure your child gets the right support at the right time.

Other sources of support to consider:

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support including Education Health Care Plan

Your child may need Special Educational Needs Support within school/education. This support is not dependent on a diagnosis but based on your child’s needs, and may include a pathway to Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP). For further information contact your educational provider, teachers, or Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator as they will be able to explain the local process.

Support from Social Care

You may be eligible for other services for your child/young person due to your child/young person having a disability, and with more complex needs that are not being met through universal services. Referral for assessment will be through your local authority where the child/young person is living.

Your child or young person may be eligible for Disability Living Allowance (DLA)/Personal Independence payments (PIP) (over 16 years) which is additional funding to support caring for your child.

https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children  

You may be entitled to short breaks (for your child aged 5-18 years) if they are both eligible for a higher level of DLA/PIP and have higher level educational needs. Search for your Local Authority for Eligibility in your area.

https://www.nottshelpyourself.org.uk/kb5/nottinghamshire/directory/site.page?id=KglSlQBRNio

Where else can I get support from?

Local Support

 

Support for parents and carers

Supporting parents and caregivers in understanding and navigating ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is crucial for the well-being of both the child and the family.

ADHD Foundation Parent Skills-Building Courses

The ADHD Foundation offers strength-based programs to support parents and caregivers. These courses focus on developing skills and knowledge related to neurodevelopmental conditions. The goal is to help children and young people with ADHD thrive and achieve their full potential.

Parent Skills-Building Courses - ADHD Foundation : ADHD Foundation

Onwards & Upwards Psychology Parent Support

This workshop provides comprehensive, neuro-affirming education for parents. Topics covered include understanding the origins of autism and ADHD, how the brain is wired, and how these conditions impact a child’s perception of the world. The program emphasizes unique pathways of support for each child.

Parent Support for Autistic & ADHDers (onwardsandupwardspsychology.com.au)

The 4 Step Parenting Programme by The ADHD Centre

This 4-step course combines insights from neuroscience studies, interactive exercises, and practical worksheets. It provides parents with tools to support and understand their child with ADHD. The program is tailored to individual needs, empowering parents to be agents of positive change in their child’s development.

The 4 Step Parenting Programme - The ADHD Centre