It is normal to have inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. It is considered ADHD when these behaviors are more severe, occur more often and interefere with or reduce the quality of function in school, work or socially and last longer than 6 months.
Inattentitive- Child has difficulty with attention across multiple settings. Formerly called ADD.
Hyperactivity-Child does not display difficulties with attention. However, the child has significant difficulty with impulsivity and activity level.
Combined type- Most common form of ADHD. The child struggles with paying attention and regulating behavior.
Information taken from NAMI and NIMH
Inattention
Becoming bored with task easily
Losing things such as school supplies
Failing to pay attention to details
Trouble completing or turning in homework assignments
Avoid or dislike tasks that require sustained mental effort, such as homework or classwork
Hyperactive
Talk excessively
Difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities
Squirm, fidget, difficulty sitting still
Impulsive
Blurt out
Impatient
Acting without regard to consequences
Symptoms must be present before the age of 7 in two different settings
Symptoms must significantly impair the individuals social, academic or job functioning
A medical doctor must diagnose ADHD
Schools cannot diagnose but can administer evaluations to show if there are characteristics or not of ADHD
Software and "gadgets" for ADHD students
This link includes resources for math, reading, and writing assistive technology devices
Note-taking technology for students with LD and ADHD
This link provides information on four categories of note-taking assistance: 1. Human note-takes, 2. Electronic note-capturing systems, 3. recording devices, and 4. Software applications
A speech to text
A must have app for organization and scheduling difficulties. It syncs all of the day’s tasks and to-dos and can send reminders to a phone or tablet. It’s available for free for IOS and Android devices.
Helps students easily share and collaborate on documents with a teacher, tutor or classmate. Google Drive lets students create documents, spreadsheets, and slideshows and share them with others.
This free app creates checklists and sublists and allows users to add details about the areas that users need need to focus on in order to accomplish tasks. The app helps users to stay on track with due dates and notifications.
This free app helps with executive functioning skills such as starting tasks, staying organized, and prioritization in tasks. This app is useful to address procrastination and motivation on bigger tasks or projects.
A free plugin for Microsoft Word (available only for Windows users) that will speak the text of any Word document and highlight as it goes.
Executive functioning is your brains ability to plan, organize and use self-control.
APPS
Flora App- this one helps you stay off your phone through growing a plant. If you go on social media your plant dies!
Google Keep App -free note taking app. Allows you to add photos, notes, audio and lists with the ability to change the color of notes and list.
Habitica App -turns task into a game. It allows you to have a Avatar and each time you complete something on your task list you level up.
Multi-Timer App -allows you to run multiple timers at once with each timer having a different color.
Routinery App- allows you to create set morning and evening routines with visual reminders and timers.
Tiimo App- is a planner app that help you with routines through visual schedules and reminders.
Tiny Decisions App- if you struggle with making small simple decisions, this app can help you choose.
ADDA - Attention Defecit Disorder Associaton
The website of the Attention Deficit Disorder Association is for both people dealing with ADHD and for professionals who treat them. The website includes links to current articles, conferences and an ADDA store.
ADDitude Inside the ADHD Mind
The website has expert guidance and support to parents and adults and it's related mental health conditions. The website is extensive and offers all kinds of information, resources and articles.
Understood Children and ADHD
The website is for learning and attention issues. It has resources for students and parents, expert advice, articles, free online conferences and tools to help your child.
CHADD- Children and Adults with Attention Defecit/Hyperactivity Disorder
The organization Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) operates this website, which is devoted to providing information about ADHD, including public policy, legal rights, answers to frequently asked questions, and current research.
Child Advocate
The Child Advocate is a website that “serves the needs of children, families and professionals while addressing mental health, medical, educational, legal and legislative issues. It provides information on specific topics such as “ADHD and Brain Imaging” and provides a link to disaster help for kids and parents.
National Center of Learning Disabilities
Information on the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act and Section 504 from the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
Children's Books on ADHDMagination Press (an imprint of the American Psychological Association) publishes beautifully written and accessible picture books, middle school readers and workbooks to help children deal with a wide variety of psychological concerns and challenges.
Many Ways to Learn: A Kid’s Guide to LD (2nd Edition) by Judith M. Stern, M.A., and Uzi Ben-Amil, Ph.D.
Help Is On the Way: A Child’s Book about ADD by Marc A. Nemiroff, Ph.D., and Cameron Annuziata, Psy.D
Putting on the Brakes Activity Book for Kids with ADD and ADHD (2nd Edition) by Patricia O. Quinn, M.D., and Judith M. Stern, M.A.
Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention: A Book for Kids by Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ph.D., and Ellen B. Dixon, Ph.D.
Specific Resources to help parents understand their child
Parenting Children with ADHD: 10 Lessons that Medicine Cannot Teach by Vincent J. Monastra, Ph.D
Coaching Students with ADHD: Issues and Answers by Patricia Quinn, M.D., Nancy Ratey, Ed.M., and Theresa Matlin Ph.D.
How to Reach and Teach Students with ADD/ADHD: Practical Techniques, Strategies, and Interventions by Sandra Rief
ADDitude Magazine - online publication with information, resources, webinars