Oxford ADHD expert shares signs to look for in your child this summer

As kids break up for the summer holidays, an Oxford ADHD specialist is advising parents and carers who think their child might have ADHD to use the time to get to know their child's strengths and challenges.

Dr Heidi Phillips, a GP who specialises in neurodiversity at the Oxford Centre for ADHD and Autism, held a free webinar for parents and carers.

She says: "I see many parents arrive at assessments already convinced their child has ADHD after seeing misinformation online or hearing celebrity stories, but the question we need to answer in order to help a child is not 'Does my child have ADHD?' but 'What is my child struggling with?'. The only way to answer that is to listen and observe, and the summer holidays offer an opportunity to do that."

The signs of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. But even when a child appears inattentive or is displaying challenging behaviour, it doesn't automatically mean ADHD.

"We need to make sure there's nothing else going on, for example auditory issues or autism,” says Dr Phillips. “We need to understand what it is that they are struggling with, what their difficulties are, and then try and make sense of those difficulties.”

Summer holidays offer a valuable opportunity to observe

Without the pressures of the classroom, summer can provide parents with a chance to see how their child manages everyday activities.

Questions parents may want to consider include:

• Can your child sit and complete a painting, puzzle or craft activity in detail?

• Can they follow a recipe and bake a cake?

• Summer holidays offer a valuable opportunity to observe

• Can they read and understand the instructions for a board game and sit and play it?

• Can they follow written instructions but struggle when the same instructions are given verbally?

• Can they sit and write a story? Is it easier for them to tell a story than write it?

• Do they move independently from one step of a task to the next without becoming distracted?

• Are difficulties only happening in school, or do they occur at home as well?

Dr Phillips points to one example seen during assessments.

"I've had children who can absolutely follow lists of written instructions, no problem at all. They can bake a cake from start to finish without getting distracted. But that same child in a classroom environment can't follow the teacher’s verbal instructions. That's an auditory processing problem, not an inattentive inability to follow instructions.”

When home and school tell different stories

Parents are often surprised when teachers report that a child appears focused and engaged in school despite difficulties at home.

According to Dr Phillips, this is an important clue that should be explored carefully.

“If a child appears able to concentrate, stay organised and manage expectations throughout the school day but becomes overwhelmed or distressed at home, this could suggest that ADHD isn’t the issue but something else is happening,” she says.

Start gathering evidence now

Parents who remain concerned after observing their child over the summer should begin conversations with their child’s school in the new academic year.

Teachers, SENCOs, tutors, sports coaches, club leaders and other adults who know the child well can all help build a more complete understanding of how a child functions across different environments.

A good assessment starts before the appointment

Parents are also encouraged to remember that a high-quality assessment begins long before they meet a clinician.

School reports, examples of challenges, observations from different settings and a clear history of concerns can all help specialists understand what's happening.

Ultimately, Dr Phillips says the goal should not be to secure a particular diagnosis, but to understand a child's needs and identify the right support.

Your best is good enough this summer

Dr Phillips also offers advice for coping with the long holidays.

"We all know the rules that say children shouldn't be on social media and shouldn't have too much screen time. But the reality is most parents can't afford activity camps and exciting new experiences every day. So be kind to yourself as a parent this summer. Do what is right for you and your family."