Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) talks about the Listening to families ADHD package – he notes that there are 6 video series that address: families questions, students questions, ADHD in girls, medication, ADHD and school, ADHD teachers questions.

Emma Worsfold DP / SENCO Hoon Hay School notes that families have a lot of information and that it is important for teachers to be aware of this. She explains that parents have a unique perspective and talks about the importance of working collaboratively with families.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) explains what a SNAP form is. He notes that the forms are completed by families and the school team – these provide different perspectives which can be helpful.

Emma Worsfold DP/ SENCO Hoon Hay School, Helen Aldwell RTLB Cluster Manager and Sarah Parder Year 9 Adviser / Learning Support Hagley College each address the importance of communication between families and the school – primary, intermediate and secondary. They talk about support at the time of transition.

Emma Worsfold DP/ SENCO Hoon Hay School and Helen Aldwell RTLB Cluster Manager note that schools are recording information about students all of the time. This is gathered in a structured way and used to inform interactions with students and the devlopment of a plan.

Emma Worsfold DP/ SENCO Hoon Hay School, Helen Aldwell RTLB Cluster Manager and Sarah Parder Year 9 Adviser / Learning Support Hagley College note that Individual Learning plans might address academic or behavioural aspects, they might be large or small, the important thing is that they are tailored to each student.

Helen Aldwell RTLB Cluster Manager notes that schools celebrate difference in lots of

ways. She explains that there are opportunities right through a school day and year for

children to understand that we are all different. Sarah Parder Year 9 Adviser / Learning Support

Hagley College notes that this happens in a formal and informal way.

Emma Worsfold DP / SENCO Hoon Hay School notes that strategies that work for children with ADHD are normally good for the whole class. She talks about emotion regulation and also about dealing with sensory issues. Sarah Parder Year 9 Adviser / Learning Support Hagley College notes the difference between primary and secondary schools.

Emma Worsfold DP / SENCO Hoon Hay School notes that behaviour is communication. Helen Aldwell RTLB Cluster Manager explains different approaches to responding to behaviour. Matt Eggleston Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist shares his observations.

Sarah Parder Year 9 Adviser / Learning Support notes that benefits for the school when the family share what is happening for the child at home. Parents see things that the school won’t be seeing – being aware of this helps the school support the student.

Helen Aldwell RTLB Cluster Manager notes the importance of communication. Sarah Parder Year 9 Adviser / Learning Support notes the importance of building a relationship with the school. Emma Worsfold DP / SENCO Hoon Hay School notes the importance of being curious about a child and looking at ways for the child to be successful.

Emma Worsfold DP / SENCO Hoon Hay School talks about strategies to avoid exclusion from an activity. She notes the importance of being solution focussed. Sarah Parder Year 9 Adviser / Learning Support explains the value of family and school meeting to talk through options for the student.

Helen Aldwell RTLB Cluster Manager notes that all schools have a process for addressing families concerns about a teacher and how concerns can be escalated. Emma Worsfold DP / SENCO Hoon Hay School talks about the importance of working with the school to resolve the issues.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) notes that ADHD is often present with other conditions. ADHD can contribute to a risk for other disorders. He explains that people with ADHD are more likely to experience trauma including head injuries.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) explains that there is a strong family / genetic influence. He notes the importance of getting a comprehensive assessment and ensuring that the explanation provided by the clinician feels right.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) explains why it is harder for girls to get a diagnosis. He notes that ADHD presents differently in girls – often girls are quiet and inattentive and often get missed by teachers and others. He talks about masking which is more prevalent in girls.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) explains why Ritalin is the preferred medication – notes that it has the best balance of positive and negative effects. 70% of people get a good response. He talks about the difference between stimulants and non-stimulants.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) talks about the NGO sector and the support that they provide. He also talks about Support groups – the benefits of these are discussed.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) talks about the role that SENCO’s and RTLB play. He notes that Ministry has good resources for teachers – he refers to the TKI website https://inclusive.tki.org.nz/guides/autism-and-learning/

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) discusses the benefits of coffee and notes that this area is under researched. He notes that several of the families that he has worked with have talked about the role of coffee.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) notes that ADHD can contribute to suicide risk. He explains factors that may influence this and talks about ways to minimise the risk. He talks about the importance of relationships .

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) agrees that sensory issues are common for people with ADHD. He discusses sensitivity to light, to noise, tastes, smells and clothes. He talks about under and over sensitivity.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) addresses parents’ concerns about stimulant medications leading to addiction. He refers to evidence that suggest that this is unlikely. He also discusses the impact that hormonal changes have.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) identfies CHADD https://chadd.org/ as a good resource. He also refers to the NIMH website and the NICE guidelines (both noted in the resources). Matt and Tracey discuss the Life Keepers program https://www.lifekeepers.nz/

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) notes that while awareness of ADHD in girls is increasing there is still quite a long way to go. He explains the differences in presentation and confirms the importance of getting an assessment. He also notes that there is often trial and error with the treatment regime.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) answers families’ questions about ADHD.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) answers families’ questions about ADHD

ADHD diagnosis involves a comprehensive assessment by a psychologist, paediatrician, or psychiatrist, considering symptoms, family history, and coexisting conditions. ADHD is often stable after age six but may change over time.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) answers families’ questions about ADHD

ADHD treatment is complex and often multidisciplinary. Medication, particularly stimulants, is the primary choice for moderate to severe cases. Non-stimulant options are available if stimulants are ineffective.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) answers families’ questions about ADHD

Stimulants for ADHD, when used as prescribed, don't typically cause euphoria but can increase pulse and blood pressure. Concerns about personality changes and future substance misuse are largely unsupported by research.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) answers families’ questions about ADHD

Alternative treatments like Omega Fatty Acids and micronutrients may have mild effects on ADHD symptoms. However, their benefits are less clear compared to medication, particularly for core symptoms.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) answers families’ questions about ADHD

The National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD NZ, and Leading Lights provide reliable resources on ADHD. Additionally, NICE guidelines and TKI offer evidence-based strategies for managing ADHD.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) explains the range of medications available for treating ADHD. He talks about short, medium and long acting forms of medication and different approaches to reflect age and other conditions.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) refers to a comprehensive trial that compared the medication approach and the psychosocial approach to treating ADHD and how this trial impacted on the way ADHD is treated.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) addresses parents’ concerns about their child becoming a Zombie. Matt notes that high dosage rates can impact on a child’s personality. A reduction in the rate leads to an immediate positive change – there is no permanent effect.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) notes that there is a lack of research on the benefits of natural remedies. He talks about Omega 3 and notes that it might have a mild impact. He also refers to the ongoing UoC micronutrient trial.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) talks about the impact of medication on growth. He explains that there is a negative impact on appetite for 20% to 30% of children and this can effect height and weight at adulthood. He also talks about the impact on behavior.

Matt Eggleston Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist talks about the core symptoms – attention span, is the child easily distractible, can they persist with tasks, being forgetful, losing things and having problems with organisation.

Matt Eggleston Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist talks about strategies for engaging with parents. He suggests that asking for their observations is the best approach.

Matt Eggleston Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist explains what executive function is and suggests that most of those with ADHD will have some executive function issues.

Psychiatrist suggests that there are core strategies to help students regulate. He notes that having clear and explicit expectations for the class is very important. Watching out for early signs of dysregulation is really important.

Matt Eggleston Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist explains that students with an interest in a specific topic can become really invested in this. He suggests that teachers use this where they can.

Matt Eggleston Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist notes that predictable noises are going to be less stimulating than unpredictable ones. He suggests that allowing students to listen to music may be a good strategy.

Matt Eggleston Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist explains that co regulation is being aware of when a student is under or over aroused and responding appropriately. He notes the challenges for teachers in busy classrooms.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) explains common causes for brain stimulation. He talks about a range of factors including the impact of emotional states and sensory activity. He also discusses over and under arousal.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) notes that people with ADHD often have 3 or 4 things on their mind at any one time and talks about the need to filter out thoughts. He notes it can be hard to focus on one thing and stick to it.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) answers Toby’s questions about the impact of added food colourings and flavours. Matt refers to research that indicates that these additives only effect approx 8% of people with ADHD. They discuss sensory issues linked to clothing – a common issue.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) talks about creativity and curiosity and notes that it varies from person to person whether they have ADHD or not. They discuss problem solving and whether people with ADHD perform better in this space

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) explains why some people access services and help and others don’t. He talks about the roles of parents or teachers in identifying issues and then progressing to an assessment. He also comments on the barriers to accessing services.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) explains why individuals have ADHD. He notes the strong family link – approx 75% genetic factors. He also discusses other potential causes including premature birth.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) notes that people with ADHD can be very excitable, say the first thing that comes in to their head. Medication can help. Having an ADHD label can help. They discuss having friends that signal when they need to quieten down.

Matt Eggleston (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist) notes that a person with ADHD may have experienced bullying or other negative experiences which can lead to mild paranoia. He notes that stuttering is separate to ADHD.