All about ASL:
ADHD
If you are a young person who has ADHD, you may find it challenging to concentrate in school.
Here, we explain what ADHD is, how it can affect your learning and share what help is available.
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
It is a condition that can mean you are more likely to act on impulse and feel restless. ADHD can also make it harder for you to pay attention, focus on tasks and remember things.
ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder
Like ADHD, people who have ADD find it difficult to concentrate. However those with ADD don’t experience the symptoms of hyperactivity like restlessness.
ADHD affects how a person’s brain works. One way we’ve heard it being described is that having ADHD is like having a ‘racing car brain’.
Sometimes your brain can feel like it’s going really, really fast.
The problem is, sometimes it can go a bit too fast and you can find it difficult to slow it down.
This can lead to feeling like you have more energy than others and you might struggle to sit still. You might also find it hard to pay attention to what people are saying and get more distracted.
If you have ADHD you might also:
- feel disorganised
- find time-management difficult
- struggle to complete tasks
- feel like it’s hard to follow instructions or directions
- be impulsive (meaning you sometimes do things without thinking about it)
- be more likely to take risks
- lose or misplace possessions regularly
- find that you are more productive in short bursts
- experience ‘hyperfocus’ – this is when someone has an intense fixation on an interest or activity for an extended period of time.
It’s important to remember that everyone can feel like this from time to time. But for someone with ADHD they can experience these symptoms most or all the time.
It’s also important to be aware that not everyone who has ADHD experiences it in the same way.
How people experience ADHD can vary at different times and in different environments.
adhd and learning
Sometimes ADHD can lead to difficulties in school or social settings.
If you have ADHD, you may find it difficult to concentrate in class or focus on things like reading and revising.
You might also feel like your lessons are too long. This can make it harder to pay attention or follow your teacher’s instructions.
If you have ADHD and feel like this, it’s important to try and not worry too much. There are lots of people in Scotland who have ADHD, and there is support available to help them.
How can my school help?
If you have ADHD one of the ways you can get help in school is through Additional Support for Learning (ASL).
ASL is available to pupils who need extra support to help them learn.
This includes pupils with ADHD. They may need help to manage their symptoms and keep up with their schoolwork.
ASL can include a wide range of support, such as:
- extra help planning your work
- more regular check-ins with your teacher to keep you on track
- support from a learning assistant
- access to technology that helps you
- movement breaks during or between classes where you can get your muscles working and refocus
- access to things like wobble cushions, silent fidget toys, putty, chewing gum, music through headphones
- extra time for exams
If you are finding it hard to focus on your learning, it’s important to let your school know so that they can provide you with the support you need.
You can do this by talking to a class teacher or your school guidance teacher. They should then be able to help you access the right support and work with you to create a personalised plan that meets your needs. For example, a quiet study space or more regular breaks throughout the day.
If you are 12-15 and are having difficulty speaking to your school about support, an organisation called My Rights, My Say can help.
You can contact them by hitting the button below.
Want to find out more about struggling to concentrate in school?
Check out our tips to help you focus on this page 🙂
Are you finding it hard to concentrate on your learning? Read our tips to help you focus in school.
who else can help?
The Scottish ADHD Coalition offer lots of information and support. You can find out more by clicking the button below.
Young Minds is a website that also offers lots of advice for young people about ADHD. You can hit the button below to visit their dedicated ‘ADHD and mental health’ page.
There are also more great tips on the Salveson Mindroom Centre website.
Here’s a great video about a girl called Estella who has ADHD.