Educational dilemma for China's young ADHD sufferers

Chinese children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are struggling with poor performance at ordinary schools, as special schools refuse to admit them, the China Comment reported.

Students at a primary school in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, April 2, 2017. [File Photo: VCG]

ADHD is the most commonly studied and diagnosed mental disorder and affects both children and adolescents.

In children, the disorder may result in distraction and hyperactivity in the classroom, with problems in paying attention, sitting still or disturbing others.

A report in the China Comment revealed complaints about a pupil with ADHD in Beijing hurting classmates for no reason, even after the child had received medical treatment.

The teacher said the child has received special attention, including personal psychological guidance, but it has not helped.

"Due to limited resources, we are not able to open a separate classroom for the child. We cannot refuse to accept him either," said the teacher.

While ordinary schools are unable to deal with these students with extra needs, schools providing special education do not accept them, as ADHD is neither a mental nor a physical disability.

Parents of ADHD children are also confused about how to provide suitable at-home education to their kids.

Experts are calling for medical and educational authorities to join hands in solving the current dilemma for ADHD students, in the hope of creating a place which offers these children both educational, medical and mental services.

They also said that parents should have more opportunities to learn about ADHD.

It is estimated China has 20 million children with ADHD.