Problems at school : The role of ADHD & other factors
Australian psychologists are untangling the many factors that cause academic problems for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ).
It is well known that students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) experience significant academic problems . What is less clear is the extent to which these academic problems are due to ADHD itself or due to other risk factors known to be associated with ADHD . One psychological study in which I have been involved has
Chris Kaag with his wife Gretchen and son Carter investigated this question .
ADHD is defined by the
DSM-5 as “ a persistent pattern of inattention and / or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development ”. Researchers have identified significant executive function , selfregulatory , cognitive , neuropsychological , and biochemical impairments or deficiencies associated with ADHD and we know these can impede school performance .
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Quarterly , studied almost 4,000 Australian high school students : 136 with ADHD and 3,779 non-ADHD peers from the same classrooms and schools . It aimed to identify which academic problems are linked to ADHD itself and which problems are caused by other ( related ) difficulties .
Personal risk factors known to impede students ' school performance were investigated . These included specific learning disabilities ( such as with reading , writing , mathematics ), low socio-economic status , low motivation , prior achievement