What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition of not being able to focus, being overactive, not being able to control behavior, or a combination of these behaviors. The condition has several variants:
- Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: The student has difficulty with organizing or finishing a task, paying attention to details, or following instructions or conversations. The student is easily distracted or forgets details of daily routines.
- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: The student fidgets and talks a lot, and has difficulty sitting still for long periods of time (e.g., for a meal or while doing homework). Smaller children may run, jump or climb constantly. The individual feels restless and has trouble with impulsivity. Someone who is impulsive may be interruptive, grab objects from people, or speak at inappropriate times. The person has difficulty waiting for a turn or listening to directions. A person with impulsiveness may have more accidents and injuries than others.
- Combined Presentation: Symptoms of the above two types are equally present in the person. (Source: Facts About ADHD, Centers for Disease Control, Web, 17 January 2014.)
For these problems to be diagnosed as ADHD, the manifestation of these behaviors must be out of the normal range for a person's age and development.
Who is eligible for educational support services?
Students who exhibit difficulty with academic performance and are diagnosed with ADHD may be eligible for educational support services.
Where can I find additional information and resources?