The problem of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and education was discussed in The Times Educational Supplement 2 years ago when guidelines on managing such behaviour, published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), recommend that the use of Ritalin should be reined in and that teachers could help provide alternative solutions.

Fintan O'Regan, educational consultant with the national Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service (Addiss) and author of several books on how to manage behaviour commented that "To get through school, you have to be able to do periods of boredom, and if you have ADHD you can't."

Although advocating well trained teachers he also added that

""The third factor is being open-minded to options available, including medication."

From the same article -

"There is no single obvious cause.
ADHD is diagnosed through behaviour, and the diagnosis need not imply a medical or neurological cause. There can also be a genetic influence. Some research links ADHD to damage to the development of the brain.

There is also some link between additives and levels of hyperactivity.

How many children have it?
About 3 per cent of school-age children and young people in the UK

How many children are prescribed drugs?
It is thought as many as 55,000 have been prescribed drugs for ADHD,

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (Nice) has said the drug should not be routinely prescribed and never to under-fives.
It should be reserved for the 41 per cent with severe symptoms or for those with moderate levels of impairment who have refused non-drug interventions, or whose symptoms have not responded sufficiently to other approaches.