What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, previously known as ADD, is one of the most widely recognised neurodevelopmental disorders. The condition is characterised by executive dysfunction alongside three behavioural traits: hyperactivity, impulsiveness and inattentiveness. There is no single cause for ADHD, with scientists believing that it is caused by a variety of factors, including genetics.
ADHD affects many looked after children. One American study suggests that there are many reasons for this link, including the effects of prolonged stress on the development of a child’s brain and the known links between prenatal exposure to harmful substances and ADHD.
Understanding the 3 types of ADHD
There is a misconception that ADHD only presents in one way: through hyperactivity. There are in fact 3 recognised types of ADHD. Let’s explore the differences between them.
1. ADHD (combined):
A child may receive this diagnosis if they score highly for all three traits associated with ADHD outlined in the DSM-5: inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity. This is the most common type of ADHD.
2. ADHD (hyperactive/impulsive type):
A child may receive this diagnosis if they score highly for symptoms associated with impulsiveness and hyperactivity, but don’t present many ‘inattentive’ behaviours.
There are lots of harmful stereotypes associated with these symptoms: hyperactive and impulsive behaviours may be misunderstood as attention-seeking or poor behaviour. If you believe that a child in your care may have undiagnosed ADHD, keep an eye out for some of these behaviours:
- Fidgeting or restlessness
- Stimming
- Interrupting
- Impatience
- Being talkative
- Making impulsive decisions
- Little regard for danger
- Excessive movement in inappropriate situations (for example, getting up to walk around during a school assembly or trying to climb inappropriate objects)
- Struggling to manage big emotions
3. ADHD (inattentive type):
Inattentive ADHD is the lesser-known type, where a child scores highly for the symptoms associated with inattentiveness but scores low on hyperactive and impulsive-type behaviours.
This type of ADHD can often pass under the radar, and symptoms of inattentiveness can often be missed or dismissed as a child being a daydreamer or lacking discipline. In a child with this type of ADHD, you may notice behaviours such as:
- Forgetfulness
- Losing things
- Distractibility
- Making seemingly careless mistakes
- A short attention span
- Losing track of time
- Struggling to follow directions
- Avoiding tasks which take lots of mental focus (for example, homework)
Recommended reading: ADHD parenting books for foster parents
- ‘The Gift of ADHD: How to Transform Your Child’s Problems into Strengths’ by Dr. Lara Honos-Webb
- ‘The ADHD Parenting Guide for Girls’ by Richard Bass
- ‘Practical Strategies for Parenting Your Child with ADHD’ by Thomas & Carrie Allen
Recognising ADHD in women and girls
One of the most harmful stereotypes around ADHD is the old-fashioned view that ADHD only really effects boys. In truth many women and girls have ADHD, though an estimated 50-75% of women in the UK who have the condition have never received a formal diagnosis. This is due to a range of factors, including:
- Women and girls are far more likely to have inattentive-type ADHD, and as such their symptoms often go unnoticed
- Women’s symptoms are regularly misdiagnosed as anxiety, depression or another mood disorder due to overlapping symptoms
- Women and girls tend to be better at masking their ADHD symptoms
Many women to not receive a diagnosis until they have children of their own with the condition, and their genetic link is revealed. Shockingly, the average age for a woman to be diagnosed if her symptoms have been missed in childhood is during her late 30’s to early 40’s.
This means that there are hundreds of women and girls who are facing their symptoms alone without any support or guidance. This is a trend which really needs to change, and we can all play a role in by increasing our awareness of ADHD in women and girls.
ADHD and other conditions
ADHD and Autism
If you’re fostering a child with autism, you may wonder if they also have ADHD. It is common for children to be diagnosed with both autism and ADHD, commonly shortened to AuDHD. There is crossover between symptoms associated with the two conditions, including rejection sensitivity, emotional dysregulation and sensory seeking behaviours.
ADHD and FASD
FASD (Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) is an umbrella term for a range of conditions caused by pre-natal alcohol exposure. These conditions are often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as ADHD or autism and can also occur alongside those conditions. An estimated 50% of children with FASD also have ADHD.
Managing ADHD symptoms with foster children
There is no cure for ADHD nor any other type of neurodiversity, but there are lots of strategies for managing ADHD. Some children may benefit from taking medication, whereas others may benefit from therapy such as CBT. Children with ADHD need care and support which is tailored to their individual needs, which usually includes reasonable adjustments at school.
If you believe that a child in your care may have undiagnosed ADHD, we recommend:
- begin keeping a record of their behaviours
- speak with the SENCO lead at their school
- Speak with their GP
The GP may choose to refer the child for a detailed specialist assessment. To learn more about getting an ADHD diagnosis for a child in your care, visit the NHS website.
Accessing support for foster children with ADHD
Be sure to reach out to your Supervising Social Worker for help and advice if you believe that a child in your care may be living with undiagnosed ADHD. Our team here at FCA are on hand to provide guidance and support via our 24/7 helpline, and we’ll be by your side to support you through the assessment process.
We also offer a specialised training course through our online learning platform, ‘Understanding ADHD,’ designed to equip our foster parents with the skills they need to support a child with ADHD.
Interested in learning more about fostering a child with additional needs? Contact our team on 0800 023 4561 to join us in making the difference which lasts a lifetime.
