| Any form of ADHD testing is going to involve | | | | as an educational advisor supporting behavioural |
| symptom sorting? | | | | problems in young people I had the privilege of knowing |
| Does your child easily lose concentration? | | | | a very experienced head of school nurses. She was |
| Do they have problems finishing their tasks? | | | | able to l look at a class register of children she |
| Do they constantly fidget? | | | | didn’t know and from their records of early |
| Are they constantly on the go? | | | | hearing problems she could pinpoint the children who |
| Do they forget things? | | | | would be presenting the symptoms of ADHD and she |
| Are they disorganised and easily lose things? | | | | was right every time. |
| Do they tend to interrupt when you are speaking and | | | | The reason why? Early undiagnosed glue ear! |
| not hear what is said to them? | | | | What happens is at such a formative stage of |
| Do they have a poor academic record? | | | | development the child cannot hear very well because |
| These are the kind of questions that form the basis of | | | | the ear canal is often blocked. This means that they |
| ADHD testing. The main approach is a system known | | | | are unable to develop across the full range of sounds |
| as Connors scale and if your child has consistently | | | | and when they get older when sound builds up in say |
| shown these kind of symptoms over a six month | | | | a school hall with high ceilings or in a nosy classroom, |
| periods they will probably be diagnosed as having | | | | they cannot information process the sounds and |
| ADHD. | | | | become overwhelmed with the noise. The kicking off |
| Many parents are desperate for help by the time their | | | | behaviour is typical of this reaction. |
| child is being tested. It may also be the case that the | | | | |
| school are pushing for the child to be tested and | | | | One of the most effective techniques that I have used |
| parents are not happy about the situation. | | | | and evaluated for ADHD is using auricular candle |
| Why does this happen? | | | | therapy, otherwise known as Hopi Ear Treatment. |
| Well usually your child will behave very differently at | | | | When you observe a child prior to having a treatment |
| home to at school. There can be many reasons why | | | | for 15 minutes and watch the number of times they |
| a child can present ADHD symptoms at school but not | | | | come off tasks – then give a treatment and |
| at home. | | | | observe the number of times they come off task |
| In my experience there can be many reasons for this | | | | again, afterwards it is always substantially less |
| but one of the reasons could be down to early | | | | distraction. Behaviours improve and a calmness is |
| undiagnosed glue ear problems. When I was working | | | | restored. |