ADHD ADHD : Academic Problems Elham Shirazi MD Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist University of Medical...
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Transcript of ADHD ADHD : Academic Problems Elham Shirazi MD Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist University of Medical...
ADHD ADHD :: Academic Problems Academic Problems
Elham Shirazi MD
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
University of Medical Sciences
Failure to complete homework
one of the biggest conflicts between parents & ADHD children
Avoiding bloody battles over homework is important !
Otherwise :Your teenager associate learning with
negative experienceIt damages parent-child relationship
11. . Take medication when doing homeworkTake medication when doing homework
determine the latest time stimulants don’t interfere with sleep
2. Set a specific time to do homework2. Set a specific time to do homeworkPoor organization skillLack awareness of timeThe biggest challenge : getting started !Involve him in selecting his starting time
33. . Set alarm to announce homework timeSet alarm to announce homework timeLet him select which alarm system to useThe alarm ring announces, not the parents !
4. Minimize distractions4. Minimize distractionsFind a place free of distractions Give him a choice of study location
5. Call a friend to confirm homework 5. Call a friend to confirm homework Obtain phone numbers early in the grading
period
. .
66. . Find a “Study Buddy” , “Study Circle”Find a “Study Buddy” , “Study Circle”Works best if the other doesn’t have ADHDStudy together review verballyThe more senses used
The more likely to learn !
7. Use color coded monthly calendar7. Use color coded monthly calendarcolor for tests, quizzes, projects, when to start
preparing
. .
88. . Divide homework into smaller segmentsDivide homework into smaller segmentsMake it more manageable Using a timer may add more interest
9. Let using a computer9. Let using a computerMany have problem with :
verbal expression, fine motor skills
Typing is time consuming !
A copy of completed work is available every time (wonderful insurance)
They often lose their schoolwork !
. .
1010. . Have him dictate themes / reportsHave him dictate themes / reportsDictate to you to type give him to editFine motor problems & slow processing
affect typing
11. Use white noise11. Use white noise Radio, ocean sounds, fans, hair dryers,.…Too easily distracted by other noises
. .
1212. . Recruit someone else for the jobRecruit someone else for the jobFriend, relative, paid professional,….
13. Find out the routine of homework 13. Find out the routine of homework assignmentsassignments
Your child often forgetsMany teachers establish routines for
homeworkFind out routines to monitor your child
. .
1414. . Find out when special projects are Find out when special projects are duedue
ADHD often forgetAsk teachers about major projects & due
dates
15. Ask teacher for written homework 15. Ask teacher for written homework assignmentassignment
ADHD often forget to copy from the boardHelpful to give them in writingParents can get it from the teacher
. .
1616. . Ask the teacher to get another Ask the teacher to get another student to remind of assignmentstudent to remind of assignment
Must be handled tactfully to avoid embarrassing
The selected student should be accepted to your child
. .
1717. . Ask the teacher to modify Ask the teacher to modify assignmentassignment
Slow reading & writing, poor organizational skills, poor memory
Spend too much time on homework
The most important thing & The purpose of homework is :
To learn information & conceptsTo learn information & concepts ! !
. .
Allow to:Allow to:photocopy pagesfill in the blankshighlight answersassign half the problems…..
If still cover the same number of concepts
. .
1818. . Use daily or weekly reportsUse daily or weekly reportsMay be limited to subjects in danger of
failingWeekend activity contingent upon
bringing a satisfactory weekly reportDesign a weekly report formKeep things simple (test grades,
completion of school - & homework)Request teacher’s signature rather than
initials
. .
1919. . Limit time spent on homeworkLimit time spent on homeworkIf takes too long soon avoid & hate
homeworkIf homework takes > 2 hours each night
won’t be productive anyway
Need to modify homework assignments otherwise
. .
20. Watch Out for Hasty Errors 20. Watch Out for Hasty Errors
If unsupervised :
may rush through homework
no matter if it is incorrect !
Just want to finish it !
. .
Review when he is finishedMark mistakes :
have him correct errorsIf frustrated :
take break to cool offIf blows up :
stay calm & lower your voice
. .
21. Give Time to Unwind 21. Give Time to Unwind before Bedtimebefore Bedtime
Take a bath Have a few minutes to himself
. .
22. Teach Him that :22. Teach Him that :
Schoolwork & HomeworkSchoolwork & Homework
Will Be DoneWill Be Done
Either Now or Later !Either Now or Later !
. .
Must make up any work he doesn’t complete during the week
Must be done even if it is late (even if he receives no credit)
Start with most important subjects
Do a few problems that will ensure that concepts are mastered for the next
test
Forget to Bring Home the Forget to Bring Home the Weekly ReportWeekly Report
Take / Send back to get report
Teach key skills first (academics) Can’t learn every skill you want
The most important skill must be taught first
After learning to finish his work , you can work on other issues
Work on remembering the report later
All of us forget things , not just teenagers !
Making Too Many ZerosMaking Too Many Zeros
Many make good grades if complete school Many make good grades if complete school assignmentassignment
May have lots of zeros into their gradesMay have lots of zeros into their grades
1. Monitor zeros in subjects in danger of failing 2. Monitor progress through daily or weekly
reports3. Ask teacher to be flexible in grading & to
turning in make-up work4. Have your child average his grades (How many grades of 85 does it take to bring one
zero grade up to a passing score ?)
. .
Weak organization skills Poor memory Poor work habits Knowledge gaps to overcome Don’t learn from negative consequences
May feel badly about failing But even their good intention will not
always change their behavior !
. .
Double check homework & Make-up assignments
You must work with your child
to improve completion of his homework
So that he seldom receives zeros !
Failing ClassesFailing ClassesMay not even realize that they are
failing ! may be shocked !Don’t understand full ramification of
failingDiscussing consequences of school
failure may impress him with importance of passing grades
Because of ADD even understanding this may not influence his behavior
having to stay behind not being with friends of the same
agebeing ineligible for extracurricular
activitieshaving to attend summer schoolnot graduating with classmates….
Discuss full impact of failing a class
Monitor progress if strugglingMonitor progress earlyCall teachers to find out how he is
doingUse weekly reportsMake up credits for graduation
(graduating with friends : important to many teenagers !)
Help your teenager graph his Help your teenager graph his gradesgrades
visual aid realize what grades actually mean encourage him to decrease
distance between high & low points quizzes, tests, daily grades,… may
be color coded provides concrete positive
feedback
Avoiding SchoolAvoiding School Such a negative experience Such a negative experience some don’t want to attendsome don’t want to attend Most of us avoid things we don’t do well !Most of us avoid things we don’t do well !
Emotional trauma of having to go to school Emotional trauma of having to go to school enough to make him physically sick enough to make him physically sick
some mornings some mornings They fear they can’t catch up on their school They fear they can’t catch up on their school
works & pass the classworks & pass the class they may give up ! they may give up !
. .
Set a standard for Set a standard for attending schoolattending school
Do you have a fever ?Do you have a fever ?
If he misses school expect If he misses school expect him to work on assignments him to work on assignments
Difficult to physically make an Difficult to physically make an older teenager go to school !older teenager go to school !
Have a physical examHave a physical exam
1/3 - 1/2 of ADHD :chronic health problems (recurrent RTI, allergies, asthma,…)
sinus drainage & ENT infections : feel nauseated each morning
over the counter drugs, antihistamines, decongestants,…
Developing a Developing a comprehensive strategycomprehensive strategy
to increase successesto increase successes make school less aversivemake school less aversive solving school problemssolving school problems adjusting present medication adjusting present medication
Work on sleep disturbancesWork on sleep disturbances
may play a role in school may play a role in school avoidanceavoidance
1/2 < wake up feeling tired1/2 < wake up feeling tired teachers need to be aware of teachers need to be aware of
sleep disturbances sleep disturbances
Use logical consequencesUse logical consequences
If you are sick :If you are sick : you stay home all day with no you stay home all day with no
companycompany You may also take to doctor :You may also take to doctor :
if you aren’t sick back if you aren’t sick back to school to school
Seek professional helpSeek professional help to improve school environmentto improve school environment may be school phobiamay be school phobia
Make school more positiveMake school more positive
some love to go to school :some love to go to school : visit their friendsvisit their friends favorite classes (usually non-favorite classes (usually non-
academic, art, sport,…)academic, art, sport,…)
Uneven Academic PerformanceUneven Academic Performance
A hallmark of ADHDA hallmark of ADHD Great variability in homework, test Great variability in homework, test
grades, class performancegrades, class performance Can do the work one day but not the Can do the work one day but not the
next !next !
May be viewed as lazy !May be viewed as lazy !
(Could do the work if he just wanted to!)(Could do the work if he just wanted to!) Advise teacher of this characteristic !Advise teacher of this characteristic !