A little help from a TA please.

[Nomdejeur]

I have a y7 (age 11-12) in my class, he has no diagnosis and is there for extra help. He completely zones out in class, away in his own little world. When I remind him to focus he almost seems to be surprised I’m there. He would stare into space for a whole lesson if I left him. He rarely speaks more than a few words and doesn’t participate in lesson unless I encourage him. He doesn’t talk to his classmates much either and definitely not of his own volition. I’m quite concerned. After researching, ADHD is coming up. Is it possible that it could be this? The only pupils with ADHD I’ve come across are a lot more lively, always fidgeting and talking but he is the complete opposite. Are there any other diagnoses that this could point towards?

I think you should probably ask for the education psychologist to come and assess him in class, and ask his parents.

I’ve spoken to his mum and she doesn’t seem to believe there’s anything amiss. She seemed a bit put out at the suggestion, and I suppose she does know him better than I do. I guess I just see the differences between him and his classmates. The ALNco is more concerned though. I’ll double check with her on what she has decided as the next step.

Sounds like my DD2 (same age) who has a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD. She's very aware that things she's trying to do doesn't stay in her brain and needs constantly prompting to focus as she'll drift off into her own little world (it's clearly a very nice pleasant little world - I suspect full of kawaii penguins and pokemon) without and she struggles to maintain focus to carry information through things like multi-step maths problems.

She also has diagnoses of ASD and DCD, the inattentive ADHD has been the diagnosis we've had to wait longest to have confirmed - and medication has really helped improve her functioning in school (she's still a daydreamer at home where she's not medicated).

Inattentive ADHD is quite different from the stereotypical view of ADHD as very lively, loud and generally quite Tigger-esque - my daughter's the child who's managed to go to school and forget to put a skirt on!

Thank you, yes that sounds very much like him. When I think of ADHD, it’s definitely the tigger-esque version that comes to mind which is why I was questioning my thoughts. I’ll look more into that version. I know that the ALNco is probably thinking I just need to say “pay attention” or “ focus” and that he’ll suddenly switch on but it’s more than that. I’d need to say it every minute of the lesson. For him to complete work I need to be with him constantly. The second we finish work he’ll sit and stare into space for the rest of the lesson. The class could be falling down around him and he’d be oblivious.