Is it ADHD - or a Study Skills Gap?
Spring is in the air! The birds are chirping, the weather is warmer, and everything seems a whole lot brighter these days.
That is, until you open your email and discover you've received an email from the principal, who wants to discuss some concerns she has about your child.
It might read something like this: "Your child is smart but struggles to stay on task. They understand the content but are not performing well on tests. I want to see them reach their full potential."
As a parent, this email might send off alarm bells in your head. You might find yourself wondering, " Does the school think my child has ADHD?" or are they missing some school skills?
Whether you find yourself facing this kind of unexpected email or it comes up in a parent-teacher conference - or perhaps it's something you've just found yourself wondering on your own - know that you are not alone. Many parents worry that a lack of attention and less-than-perfect academic performance might signal an underlying issue like ADHD.
There are a lot of misconceptions about the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis - and in some cases, ADHD might not be at play. Regardless, there are plenty of steps you can take as a parent to help your child succeed.
Let's take a look at what might be going on here.
What Are the Diagnostic Criteria for ADHD?
"Does my kiddo have ADHD, or have they not been taught specific skills?" Truth be told, these two areas have a lot of overlap. Contrary to what some people believe, failing grades are not in and of itself indicative of ADHD. Often, it can be a sign that your child lacks study skills.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is diagnosed by a doctor or psychologist. To receive a diagnosis, a child needs to experience a number of symptoms as outlined by the DSM, typically a pattern of inattention and hyperactivity or a combination of both. The behavior must be persistent and recurring among multiple settings.
It's important to note that schools don't diagnose ADHD. Although they can provide support related to ADHD symptoms and address concerns, they do not do official diagnosing.
Moreover, symptoms present themselves before age 12 and persist in at least two different settings, meaning similar behavior patterns need to be observed across school as well as outside of a school setting.
For example, a student might have trouble finding materials in their backpack at school. Outside of school, it might look like leaving car keys in the lemons at the grocery store or consistently misplacing your keys in your house.
Some of the other more persistent symptoms might include:
A lack of attention to detail and careless mistakes on schoolwork
Trouble holding attention on tasks
Appearing not to listen when spoken to
Trouble organizing activities and tasks
Losing items necessary for certain tasks and activities (like books and school materials)
Easily distracted
Forgetful
Often fidgets or leaves his or her seat
Unable to quietly play or take part in leisure activities
Talks excessively and has trouble waiting their turn
…and so on.
The biggest question you should ask yourself is, do these issues come up only at school? If you notice forgetfulness, inattention, and hyperactivity in other areas of life, such as at home, church, sports practices, and so on, then ADHD could be behind the behaviors.
If someone truly has ADHD, you'll notice these signs popping up everywhere.
Your child is late for everything. He leaves his backpack at home nearly every day and then leaves assignments in the classroom. She forgets her favorite toy at the grocery store. At soccer practice, when the coach is giving a pep talk, your child might be completely zoned out, focused on something else that is happening across the field.
What Now?
Say your child meets some (or perhaps all) of the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis as listed above. What should you do now?
First and foremost, it's always a good idea to seek out a formal diagnosis from an experienced practitioner. Talk to your child's pediatrician to get some names of practitioners who perform ADHD testing on kids in your area. Once you have a formal diagnosis of ADHD, you can explore interventions that will help your child succeed at home and at school.
However, you might find that these "symptoms," for lack of a better term, only pop up at school. Your child struggles to pay attention and remember key parts of assignments at school, but at home, they're more or less organized and can stay on task if you ask them to do something.
In that case, ADHD might not necessarily be the root cause, but instead, a lack of proper study habits and support. Fortunately, there are things you can do to set your child up for success both in an academic and home environment.
1. Set Up a Routine With Your Child - and Reinforce it Daily
Creating a regular routine at home is essential for success in the classroom.
Establish a consistent and precise schedule of what your child will do, when, and for how long. Don't be afraid to ask for their input on this. Be as clear and as thorough in detailing this routine as possible, and be sure to include some rewards.
As a parent, you might tell your child:
"We're going to work for 15 minutes on English, 15 minutes on math problems, and 30 minutes on science."
"Each night at 6 pm, you need to work on your math homework for half an hour. After that, you can have half an hour of video games."
“Routines help us stay organized and remember all the tasks that we need to complete for school and at home.. . .”
Daily reinforcement is helpful for everyone, adults, and kids. Praise and support your child as they complete the routine on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. You might say:
"I'm so proud of how you worked on your math homework for an hour last night! It's going to be so relaxing to be able to unwind with some video games this weekend."
“I notice you came home, had a snack, and did 30 minutes of math homework; how did it feel to complete your homework right away?”
This last piece is important. Helping your child reflect can reduce anxiety about what needs to get done - and will allow them to relax for the rest of the evening.
2. Restrict Access to Preferred Items During Focused Work Time
Try setting limits on access to preferred items during routine work times, and give rewards for what will happen when the undesired tasks are completed.
You might say something like:
"I know it's hard not to have your phone while you're working on math. Give yourself twenty minutes of focused attention, then take a 10-minute break to check your Instagram."
“ Work on your science homework for 30 minutes, then play video games for 30 minutes afterward."
3. Model Behaviors You Want to See
Leading by example is one of the best ways parents can help their children learn and grow—and this applies especially when it comes to teaching them good study habits and reinforcing focus while working or studying at home.
Show your child how breaking down long-term projects into smaller pieces makes things easier to manage over time by modeling your thinking. Some tips?
Break down long-term projects into smaller pieces, like:
"This kitchen is really messy, and I need to get it clean, but I know it's going to take a while. Tonight, I'm going to focus on cleaning out the refrigerator. Tomorrow, I'll clean the oven."
Show why lists are helpful:
"We need to go to the grocery store, but I don't want to forget what I need to buy while I'm there. I'm going to make a list of everything we need."
Reward yourself for something that was hard:
"On Saturday, I'm going to clean my office. When I get it done, I'm going to treat myself to some ice cream!"
Make it About Routine, Not Rules
It's important to remember that none of these are one-size-fits-all solutions. Whether it's ADHD or a study skills gap, these routines will take weeks - and often months or years - to solidify for your child.
Ultimately, there are three things you can do to help your child be successful:
Make routines
Create systems of reward
Model the behaviors and patterns of thinking you'd like to see
And if you're still concerned about ADHD, don't hesitate to have a conversation with your child's pediatrician.
By being consistent and keeping the lines of communication open, your child will develop the strategies necessary to succeed in school - and beyond.