ATL

More ADHD training needed for teachers, study finds

17 September 2008

Teachers have a lack of understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), new research suggests.

And this hinders their ability to deal with children with the condition, it was claimed at the annual conference of Royal College of Psychiatrists' Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

The study, conducted by Dr Sheheryar Jovindah looked at teachers from six Plymouth primary schools and found that two-thirds of them struggled to understand ADHD.

This, according to the researcher, is worrying because teachers play a vital role in detecting and managing the condition.

However, the study also found that adequate training can help teachers cooperate with parents and create a suitable learning environment for the children.

Earlier this month Dr Julie Kos told the British Educational Research Association conference in Edinburgh that teachers should be better trained to provide support to pupils with ADHD, The Times Educational Supplement reported.