Parents need lessons about ADHD

New ADHD guidelines | Parents with ADHD kids need lessons

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If you have a child who suffers from ADHD, you may need lessons in how to cope with their bad behaviour, according to health experts.

Why is ADHD in the news?

New guidelines on dealing with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been published and the organsiation behind them think that parents need teaching how to cope with their children's antics.

What are the other guidelines?

The report by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) also says that anti-ADHD drugs like Ritalin should be avoided and should not be given at all to children under 5.

NICE also recommends that teachers should get training to both recognise and help children with ADHD.

Is ADHD that common?

There are no official figures. Experts reckon that any primary class is likely to have at least one child with ADHD - around 3% - and there are an estimated 365,000 children suffering with ADHD in the UK.

Currently, only around 10% of this number are prescribed medication, which is most commonly Ritalin, although there is concern that these figures are on the rise.

Don't many parents rely on Ritalin?

They do. Medication is the only way that they get some sense of normality in their life and allows their kids to work properly in school.

NICE are not saying that drugs should be scrapped, they are urging caution and think that Ritalin is often being prescribed for kids who are merely naughty.

What are the signs of ADHD?

Kids with ADHD tend to have a very short attention span and are unable to concentrate. They also find it difficult to sit still for long fidget a lot, act without thinking and tend to break rules.

Doesn't diet play a big part in this?

There have been studies that have indicated that what children eat and drink can make ADHD worse, but the group from NICE who put together these guidelines claim that fizzy drinks and sweets are 'not a big issue'.

What do the ADHD experts say?

Andrew Bilbow, chairman of the charity ADDISS, was disappointed that there was no real consultation with parents and support groups. 'The people who know best about the symptoms of ADHD and how to manage them are the parents. We feel hugely undervalued in the process'