ABSTRACT
As we have already shown, AD/HD is a multi-faceted problem comprising a complex array of interacting biological, psychological and social factors. In the opening chapters we have focused mainly on the educational aspects of AD/HD; however, it should be remembered that, to qualify for the AD/HD diagnosis, the core symptoms must be demonstrated to the extent that they are causing severe problems in at least two settings, usually the school and the home. It is not surprising, therefore, that the child with AD/ HD, in addition to having problems at school, often experiences serious problems in the home situation. Often, there is an interaction between home and school problems, with problems in one setting exacerbating problems in the other. For example, school and parents may come into conflict over the student’s behaviour, with each side blaming the
other and refusing to accept any share of the responsibility for doing anything about it. Another, sometimes related, scenario involves the student carrying the frustration and stress from one setting into the other, so that frustration and anger that have built up at school are released in the form of tantrum behaviour in the home situation. Not surprisingly, these conflicts in turn can come to be associated with secondary emotional and behavioural problems.
