Last year, an Australian study found that 40% children with ADHD are failing to meet national minimum standards, performing poorly on writing and spelling tests.
The study, by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, included 130 Victorian high school students, found that these students – particularly boys – require greater support in class.
Now, new research out of the University of Buffalo’s Graduate School of Education has found that positive behavioral supports used by parents and teachers first was superior to using medication first.
“ADHD is the most common childhood mental health disorder, and there are 1–2 children in every classroom in the United States with ADHD or at risk for it,” Gregory Fabiano, professor from the University’s department of counseling, school and educational psychology, said in a statement.
“ADHD is a chronic condition, requiring ongoing supports, so it is important to determine the best treatments that can be used over time.”
A new $3.3m study, funded by the US by the Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, hopes to follow this research to provide schools and their communities with information about the best interventions for children with ADHD.
A key practical question for educators is what treatment should be used first, for what length of time and with what level of intensity.
Fabiano’s study will directly tackle that key question faced by educators and parents each school year by recruiting 100 children with ADHD who will participate in different sequences of behaviour and/or medication treatments to find out the best approach.
“Even though children with ADHD have the same ability as their peers to learn and achieve, they unfortunately do not go as far in higher education, and they make less money when they get employed,” Fabiano said.
“This is something we need to start addressing early, in school, with effective treatments before it is too late. It is our hope that this study can add to the knowledge base of best practices to help children with ADHD be successful in school.”