ADHD signs at school: five ways a child may be struggling

Dr Anya Ciobanca says children who seem disengaged or emotionally volatile at school can be showing ADHD symptoms, and girls are often diagnosed later than boys.

Dr Anya Ciobanca, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at The ADHD Centre, describes a recurring pattern in which children who struggle at school are often mistaken for having poor behaviour or a bad attitude. She says symptoms such as daydreaming, inconsistency or emotional volatility can reflect underlying ADHD or related difficulties rather than willful misconduct. The article highlights that girls frequently remain undiagnosed until later life because their symptoms can present differently and be masked. It also notes calls for earlier recognition, more flexible teaching, and emotional wellbeing to be central in education. Key points: - Dr Ciobanca reports that behaviour alone can be misleading; some children labelled disengaged are coping with complex neurodevelopmental needs. - ADHD can include inattentive signs (for example daydreaming) and emotional dysregulation as well as hyperactivity, and girls are more likely to be underdiagnosed in childhood. - The article notes patterns for parents or schools to observe, and it reports that waiting times for formal assessment can be long in some systems. Summary: Misunderstanding common ADHD presentations can delay diagnosis and add emotional strain for children, particularly girls. Calls for earlier intervention and more accessible assessment and support in schools are reported, and efforts to place emotional wellbeing at the centre of education are ongoing.