described as a mental disorder. children with ADHD have trouble paying attention

are hyperactive and often have difficulty controlling their behavior. it

is estimated that it affects around five percent of all children aged 3 to 17

globally and that for every girl around three boys are diagnosed with it. to

understand how it affects children in school let's look at the story of Leo, a

12-year-old boy who goes to school with the best intentions but struggles hard

to succeed.

attention deficit is his biggest problem. Leo gets distracted so easily it happens

even when he tries his hardest to focus. he often realizes that he has suddenly

zoned out and has spent the last 15 minutes thinking about something

entirely different. just the tiniest thing can get him off track. to him it

feels like his brain is broken. he is also forgetful books and homework

are often left at home and if he doesn't miss an assignment he often loses it

somewhere or forgets to turn it in. his grades are terrible and some teachers

are beginning to think that he is a lost case.

then there is his hyperactivity: when they have to do group work he is

restless and has trouble staying focused. staying calm and listening while others

speak can completely drain him, making any normal conversation a serious

challenge. to him it feels like there is no capacity left in his brain to deal

with all the input that needs to be processed.

he then feels angry about not being able to follow along. to help cope with his

hyperactivity he likes to keep his hands busy all the time.

last, there is his impulsive behavior: he often cannot refrain from saying things

that come to his mind. sometimes he tries hard to control himself but then just

blurts out and interrupts others. his classmates find this annoying. he leader

regrets his hot-headed behavior but he knows that unfortunately, he will do it

again and again. it seems to him that he can't learn from his mistakes.

teachers get frustrated trying to get him to behave. others become impatient,

give up or distance themselves. after he is diagnosed and receives support

through concrete steps, things begin to get better: at school, he is seated next

to a supportive student in the front row of the class, he gets a notebook that

lists all his assignments to help him remember and to make homework easier to

track he receives it for all subjects only once a week. to relax he is allowed

to use fidget objects during lessons and take short breaks when needed. after

school he practices speaking and listening routines with the specialist.

additionally, his dad bikes with him to school every morning and in the

afternoon he is allowed to play the ball as long as he wishes. for severe cases of

ADHD prescription drugs are often prescribed. before that happens

children like Leo need to undergo a professional age-appropriate diagnosis

by a child psychologist who will try to look below the surface.

ADHD could just be the tip of the iceberg the root cause might be drama at

home, bullying at school, poor sleep or the wrong diet. Sir Ken Robinson told the

story of Gillian Lynne, an 8-year-old girl that was said to have a learning

disorder. she could not concentrate and never sat still. when she was brought to

the specialist who didn't subscribe any therapy but instead played music on the

radio, the girl started dancing. he then told her mother: "Gillian isn't sick, she's

a dancer. take her to a dance school!" Gillian Lynne later became a famous

dancer and then responsible for some of the most successful musicals in Broadway

history. please share your thoughts in the comments below. if you are

hyperactive or if you are diagnosed with ADHD please tell us about your coping

mechanisms so we can learn more about it from reading your insights. if you want

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