ADHD training needed for teachers, says academic

More training should be provided to teachers so they can be made more aware of how to deal with children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it has been argued.

This follows a study conducted by Dr Sheheryar Jovindah, whose findings were presented at the annual conference of Royal College of Psychiatrists' Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

After surveying teachers from six primary schools in Plymouth, it was found that two-thirds of them have difficulties understanding the condition.

This could prove detrimental, as school staff are key in detecting and managing ADHD, the researcher noted.

However, good training can further a teacher's understanding of the condition, help them form links with parents and equip them with knowledge to create an appropriate learning environment for the children, Dr Jovindah stated.

The idea that teachers should be provided with more training to help them deal with children with ADHD was recently supported by Julie Kos at the British Educational Research Association conference in Edinburgh.