The Child Who Couldn't Sit Still
Recently, a special education teacher reached out to me. She wanted to learn how Neuro-Linguistic Programming strategies could help her support a learner with ADHD. As we spoke, something became clear. She was describing a learner who was constantly moving, restless, and unable to remain seated for long . From her description, she appeared to be referring primarily to hyperactivity . This is a very common situation in schools. Many educators quickly associate hyperactivity with ADHD . But from a scholarly standpoint, this is not always accurate. ADHD Is More Than Hyperactivity According to the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is characterised by patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity . These patterns must: Be persistent Be developmentally inappropriate Occur across settings Interfere with functioning This means hyperactivity is only one as...