Support for AD/HD children

The attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Family Support Group has held talks for teachers working with children with AD/HD and another for the parents of children with this condition.

The talks were held in collaboration with the Faculty of Education of the University of Malta and the Ministry of Education. Professor Loretta Giorcelli of New South Wales, Australia, was the main speaker.

The AD/HD Family Support Group aims to increase the understanding and help available to AD/HD people and their families.

Education Minister Louis Galea, who addressed a seminar on ADHD observed that students with ADHD were often judged as unruly and their families as dysfunctional.

A teacher may tell the parent to accept the fact that their child's life achievements will be limited. Yet, children affected by ADHD were intelligent and sensitive but their disorder made it difficult for them to stop their thought processes from wandering.

They could not curb certain compulsions unless professionally diagnosed, treated, supported and understood. The actions of educators and education administrators could thus have a profound effect on children diagnosed as affected by ADHD.

As professionals, educators had a fundamental responsibility to continually integrate the most up to date understanding of the condition and its management into their repertoire of skills.

Improved understanding of ADHD and competence in its management will improve both the quality of educational provision and the quality of life of families where the condition was present.