Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood mental disorders and in many cases continue into adulthood. Symptoms of ADHD include:
- Inattention (not being able to keep focus)
- Hyperactivity (excess movement that is not fitting to the setting)
- Impulsivity (hasty acts that occur in the moment without thought)
An estimated 8.4% of children and 2.5 % of adults are diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD is often first identified in school-aged children when it leads to disruption in the classroom or problems with schoolwork. It is more common among males than females.
There are three main types of ADHD:
- Inattentive type
- Hyperactive/Impulsive type
- Combined type
Many adults with ADHD do not realise they have the disorder. A comprehensive evaluation typically includes a review of past and current symptoms, a medical examination and history, and use of adult rating scales or checklists.
Please consult our SEN Officer or a qualified psychologist in the community if you are experiencing difficulties or unsure of your own conditions.
Is ADHD Curable?
There is no permanent cure for ADHD, but the symptoms can be managed. Studies showed that the combination of behavioural therapy and medication can improve the symptoms of ADHD. Behavioural therapy such as ways to minimise distractions and increase structure and organisation is useful for people with ADHD. It is also helpful to have immediate family members involved.
At CityU, we undertake need assessments to reflect each individual’s unique circumstances. We highlight a person’s strengths and make clear recommendations for overcoming potential barriers to success.
We can also ensure that you are provided with the assistive equipment, software and technology that you need for effective learning.
Eligible students can request a list of modifications assigned to address individual needs in your learning, including separate classroom arrangement and extra time in examinations, etc. Further information about special examination considerations can be found here.
Self-Screening Test for ADHD
Hong Kong Association for AD/HD
http://www.adhd.org.hk/adult-adhd-assessment.aspx
This adult self-report survey is in Chinese, providing a quick screening on ADHD symptoms.
Disclaimer: This is a list of screening tools put together by SDS to offer CityU students free screening tests. The tests are aimed as a self-reference only. CityU is by no means responsible for the testing and any damage caused as a result of doing the screening tests. You may use these screening tests at your own risk. Please consult a qualified psychologist if you are unsure of your own conditions.
Further Information
For further information and guidance on ADHD in a wider context, please see:
- American Psychiatric Association
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/adhd/what-is-adh - Education Bureau, Hong Kong
https://www.edb.gov.hk/tc/edu-system/special/resources/serc/adhd.htm - Hong Kong Association For AD/HD
http://www.adhd.org.hk/
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects social interaction, communication and
behaviour. It is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is a wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is said to be a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life.
In the United States of America, it is estimated that 1 in 59 people has autism (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). ASD is also three to four times more common in males than in females, and many females with ASD exhibit less obvious signs compared to males. Even though autism is a lifelong condition, many people diagnosed with ASD go on to live independent, productive, and fulfilling lives.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a guide created by the American Psychiatric Association for diagnosis of mental disorders, people with ASD have:
- Difficulty with communication and interaction with other people:
- Have trouble making friends and relating with colleagues
- Rarely share the enjoyment of objects or activities with people
- Have difficulties reading people’s facial expressions
- Find it hard to understand social cues or ‘hidden agenda’
- Restricted interests and repetitive behaviours:
- Hand flapping
- Toe-walking
- Playing toys with a unique and unusual way
- Speaking in an odd pattern or pitch
- Need for predictable routine
- Unusual sensory needs
- Greater risks for medical conditions:
- Mental illnesses
- Sleep problem
- Seizures
Please consult our SEN Officer or a qualified psychologist in the community if you are experiencing difficulties or unsure of your own conditions.
Is ASD Curable?
The wide range of issues people with ASD face means that there is no single best treatment for ASD. Medical treatment to alleviate symptoms such as irritability and attention problems is one of the options. In addition, behavioural, psychological, educational, or skill-building interventions are common treatments for people with ASD. These programmes are typically highly structured and intensive and may involve parents, siblings, and other family members. The programmes may help people with ASD to:
- Learn life skills necessary to live independently
- Reduce challenging behaviours
- Increase or build upon strengths
- Learn social, communication, and language skills
At CityU, we undertake need assessments to reflect each individual’s unique circumstances. We highlight a person’s strengths and make clear recommendations for overcoming potential barriers to success.
We are keen to ensure that you are provided with the assistive equipment, software and technology for effective learning.
Eligible students can request a list of modifications assigned to address individual needs in your learning, including separate classroom arrangement and extra time in examinations, etc. Further information about special examination considerations can be found here.
Further Information
For further information and guidance on ASD in a wider context, please see:
- American Psychiatric Association
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/autism/what-is-autism-spectrum-disorder - Education Bureau, Hong Kong
https://www.edb.gov.hk/tc/edu-system/special/resources/serc/autism.html - National Institute of Mental Health
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd/index.shtml
Chronic Illness
What is Chronic Illness?
Chronic illness is an umbrella term that affects physical health in long duration and generally has slow progression. There is a wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience. Examples of common chronic diseases include:
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Chronic respiratory diseases
- Diabetes
Many people with chronic illness may require constant care and support financially and emotionally. Please consult our SEN Officer at SDS if you are experiencing difficulties.
Usually, people with chronic illness have medical reports from a medical doctor. With the submission of the medical evidence, we are keen to ensure that you are provided with the assistive equipment, software and technology that you need for effective learning.
Eligible students can request a list of modifications assigned to address individual needs in your learning, including separate classroom arrangement and extra time in examinations, etc. Further information about special examination considerations can be found here.
Physical and Sensory Disability (Colour Blindness, Hearing Impairment, Physical/Mobility Disabilities, Visual Impairment)
What is Physical and Sensory Disability?
Physical and sensory disability is an umbrella term which consists of several conditions that may more or less have an impact on a student’s life. Physical disability may affect a person’s mobility, dexterity or stamina on a long term basis. Sensory disability, on the other hand, affects one or more senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste or spatial awareness. Sight and hearing loss are common sensory disabilities. Some other common conditions are:
- Colour Blindness (Colour Vision Deficiency): It is the decreased ability to see colour or differences in colour. People with colour blindness will have difficulty distinguishing certain colours, such as blue and yellow or red and green.
- Hearing Impairment: Hearing loss can be acquired for a variety of reasons, ranging from disease early in childhood, difficulties during childbirth, to reactions to toxic drugs. They may exhibit a delay in language skills or a tendency to social isolation.
- Physical/Mobility Disabilities: refer to disability that is caused by a number of permanent, temporary or intermittent conditions such as diseases of the central or peripheral neurological systems, cerebral palsy, arthritis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis (MS), or traumas and diseases of the musculoskeletal systems.
- Visual Impairment: a decreased ability to see to a degree that causes problems not fixable by usual means, such as glasses.
A person may have one or more disabilities. A disability may exist from birth or be acquired later in life. It may not always be apparent, for example, epilepsy or a brain injury from an accident. While some disabilities could interfere with a student’s academic pursuits, people with the same disabilities may have different capabilities just like anyone else.
Our SEN Officer at SDS can discuss with you the specialised types of support you might need. We highlight a person’s strengths and make clear recommendations for overcoming potential barriers to success.
We are keen to ensure that you are provided with the assistive equipment, software and technology that you need for effective learning.
Eligible students can request a list of modifications assigned to address individual needs in your learning, including separate classroom arrangement and extra time in examinations, etc. Further information about special examination considerations can be found here.
Further Information
For further information and guidance on physical and sensory disabilities in a wider context, please visit:
- SAHK
https://www.sahk1963.org.hk - Education Bureau, Hong Kong
https://www.edb.gov.hk/tc/edu-system/special/resources/serc/pd.html - The American Association of People with Disabilities
https://www.aapd.com/
Mental Illness
What is Mental Illness?
Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions – disorders that affect mood, thinking and behaviour. Examples of mental illness are depression, anxiety, early psychosis, eating disorders and addictive behaviours. Many people have mental health concerns from time to time. But a mental health concern becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and problems in one’s daily life, such as at school, work or in relationships. Mental illnesses appear in many forms: some are mild and only interfere in limited ways with daily life, such as certain phobias (abnormal fears). Other mental health conditions are so severe that a person may need care in a hospital.
Mental illnesses, in general, are thought to be caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors such as inherited traits, stressful life situations, brain damages, or drugs. In most cases, symptoms can be managed with a combination of medications and talk therapy (psychotherapy). Examples of signs and symptoms include:
- Feeling sad or down
- Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
- Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
- Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
- Withdrawal from friends and activities
- Significant tiredness, low energy or sleeping problem
- Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations
- Inability to cope with daily problems or stress
- Trouble understanding and relating to situations and people
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Major changes in eating habits
- Sex drive changes
- Excessive anger, hostility or violence
- Suicidal thinking
Please consult our SEN Officer at SDS or a qualified psychologist in the community if you are experiencing difficulties or unsure of your own conditions.
Is Mental Illness Curable?
Mental illness is treatable. The need for treatment takes into consideration how severe the symptoms are, how much
symptoms cause distress and affect daily living, the risks and benefits of available treatments and other factors (for example, psychiatric symptoms complicating other illnesses).
Mental health treatment is based upon an individualised plan developed collaboratively with a mental health clinician and the individual (and family members if the individual desires). It may include psychotherapy (talk therapy), medication or other treatments. Often a combination of therapy and medication is the most effective, while complementary and alternative therapies are also increasingly being used.
Self-help and support can be very important to an individual’s coping, recovery and well-being. Improved lifestyles supports mental health and its recovery. A comprehensive treatment plan may include individual actions (for example, having good nutrition, support groups, exercise or adequate sleep) that enhance recovery and well-being.
At SDS, we undertake need assessments to reflect each individual’s unique circumstances. We highlight a person’s strengths and make clear recommendations for overcoming potential barriers to success. Our specialist at SDS can work with you on an individualised basis delivering specialised types of support to cope with symptoms in order to improve health, wellness and function.
Eligible students can request a list of modifications assigned to address individual needs in your learning, including separate classroom arrangement and extra time in examinations, etc. Further information about special examination considerations can be found here.
Further Information
For further information on mental illness in a wider context, please see:
- Department of Health, Hong Kong – Emotional Health
https://www.studenthealth.gov.hk/tc_chi/emotional_health_tips/eht_eh/eht_eh.html - National Institute of Mental Health – Help for Mental Illnesses
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help/index.shtml - World Health Organization (WHO) – Mental disorders
https://www.who.int/mental_health/management/en/
Case Study
Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)
What is Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)?
Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), or dyslexia, is a disorder that affects how language is learnt and processed. It is likely to be present at birth and usually run in families. SpLD does not imply low intelligence. In fact, there are many bright and creative individuals with dyslexia who never learn to read, write, and/or spell at a level consistent with their intellectual ability.
SpLD affects 1 in 10 individuals worldwide, many of whom remain undiagnosed and receive few or no intervention services. For some individuals who have never been diagnosed, SpLD is a hidden disability which may result in underemployment, difficulty navigating academic environments, difficulty on the job and reduced self-confidence. Even those who have been diagnosed are likely to struggle with reading or writing in some aspects of their lives. SpLD can have a significant impact on individuals’ learning and acquisition of literacy skills.
Individuals with SpLD usually have more than one of the following difficulties:
- Make more grammatical and spelling errors
- Omit words in reading comprehension
- Fail to use punctuation appropriately in written work
- Have slow reading and writing speed
- Have difficulties with organisation, expression and accuracy of written work
- Have difficulties blending sounds in words (e.g. phonemes)
- Have fine and /or gross motor coordination difficulties
Please consult our SEN Officer at SDS or a qualified psychologist in the community if you are experiencing difficulties or unsure of your own conditions.
Is SpLD Curable?
Currently, there is no cure for SpLD. However, individuals with this condition can learn coping strategies. Study skills, learning strategies, essay writing skills and time management, etc. are important coping strategies which help individuals with SpLD. Based on your conditions, our counsellor or psychologist at SDS can provide individualised training and support.
We also undertake need assessments to reflect each individual’s unique circumstances. We highlight a person’s strengths and make clear recommendations for overcoming potential barriers to success.
We are keen to ensure that you are provided with the assistive equipment, software and technologies that you need for effective learning.
Eligible students can request a list of modifications assigned to address individual needs in your learning, including separate classroom arrangement and extra time in examinations, etc. Further information about special examination considerations can be found here.
Self-Screening Test for SpLD
International Dyslexia Association
https://dyslexiaida.org/dyslexia-test/
This brief, 10-question self-assessment tool is a quick screening for SpLD symptoms.
Davis Dyslexia Association International
This free screening assessment of SpLD will give a profile of learning strengths and weaknesses. The survey has 5 pages with 41 questions in all.
Disclaimer: This is a list of screening tools put together by SDS to offer CityU students free screening tests. The tests are aimed as a self-reference only. CityU is by no means responsible for the testing and any damage caused as a result of doing the screening tests. You may use these screening tests at your own risk. Please consult our specialists at SDS or a qualified psychologist if you are unsure of your own conditions.
Further Information
For further information and guidance on SpLD in a wider context, please see:
- Hong Kong Association for Specific Learning Disabilities
https://asld.org.hk/ - Education Bureau, Hong Kong
https://www.edb.gov.hk/tc/edu-system/special/resources/serc/spld.html - British Dyslexia Association
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/educator/what-are-specific-learning-difficulties