Understood holds this weekly Twitter chat that aims to keep the momentum going and raise awareness of learning and attention issues. Follow along with hashtag #LDCHAT and follow users @understoodchats & @understoodorg. Experts will be available to answer your questions and concerns and share resources from Understood.org.
LIVE NOW
Welcome to today's #LDchat! This is Cece with the Understood team. Today, we're thrilled to welcome psychologist and ADHD specialist Sharon Saline (@DrSharonSaline) to discuss #ADHD and #anxiety.
Edie, academic therapist in Washington, DC. Building an international tribe of teachers and parents of teens and young adults with ADHD. This is an important, issue, especially for my older ones. #LDchat
A1: If you think about all of the neg feedback related to #ADHD that you’re kid has heard for years & how often she wondered about falling short again, it makes sense that she carries around a constant low level of worry which primes her for intense bouts of #anxiety. #LDchat
Some of the challenges that come along with #ADHD can make kids anxious. There's often overlap in how ADHD and #anxiety can look in kids as well. Learn more: https://t.co/UwKGenuFHc#LDchat
A1: If you think about all of the neg feedback related to #ADHD that you’re kid has heard for years & how often she wondered about falling short again, it makes sense that she carries around a constant low level of worry which primes her for intense bouts of #anxiety. #LDchat
"To compensate, I'd give myself fake deadlines to pressure myself into getting things done. I was essentially creating stressful situations to make myself hyperfocus." Read a woman's reflection on growing up with both #anxiety and #ADHD: https://t.co/iySo3I80yn#LDchat
A1) #LDchat If students know their attention is inconsistent or weak, it can make them anxious about what they're missing, whether in academic or social settings. It especially makes them anxious about making inattentive errors on tests.
A1. ADHD and Anxiety manifest in similar ways. Diagnosis is challenging. About 60% of children with ADHD show symptoms of anxiety. 47% million adults are diagnosed with both. #LDchat
A1: #ADHD & #Anxiety travel together often because when your frontal lobes are already working hard to manage typical ADHD challenges with executive functioning skills, beating back anxiety can be extra tough. #LDchat
True & this is a sad statement. Its OUR fault that those kiddos feel that way & not theirs. #LDchat Not taking the time to educate ourselves AND the child on #ADHD is the culprit of feelings of falling short. We should teach them how to OWN it & then facilitate convos on how.
A1: #ADHD & #Anxiety travel together often because when your frontal lobes are already working hard to manage typical ADHD challenges with executive functioning skills, beating back anxiety can be extra tough. #LDchat
I think that's bc kids with ADHD walk around worrying or wondering about when they will next do something that gets them negative feedback. This creates persistent anxiety. #LDchat
A2: A common sign is avoidance. Avoiding unpleasant, difficult & time consuming chores or assignments doesn’t make them go away, rather, it increases the #anxiety. #LDchat
A2: It often looks like defiance because they do not understand #ADHD & #anxiety & it's the behaviors that get the most attention rather than the CORE of what is actually happening. #LDchat
A2: Kids with #ADHD often have issues with working memory, organization and time management that make it hard to follow daily routines. This can lead to chronic stress. #LDchat
Signs of #anxiety in children can be physical, emotional and behavioral. Here are some examples you may see when a student is struggling with anxiety: https://t.co/JvOMwiS2ME#LDchat
A2. Common signs of ADHD: hyperactivity, lack of impulse control, trouble sitting still, challenges completing schoolwork/work., Disorganization is a definite issue for my older kids. Don't forget that girls tend to manifest without hyperactivity. Daydreamers. #LDchat
This is why it is SO SO important to teach those executive functioning skills! We often assume that kiddos come to us already having a proficient understanding & are just being "lazy" or "defiant" when they truly just don't know how! #LDchat
A2: Kids with #ADHD often have issues with working memory, organization and time management that make it hard to follow daily routines. This can lead to chronic stress. #LDchat
Many kids with #ADHD experience stress or anxious feelings. It's important to know the difference between typical #anxiety and signs of an anxiety problem: https://t.co/SxAxWzwr6r#LDchat
A3: Avoiding things only makes the #anxiety stronger. Instead, help him learn to talk back to his worry by recalling times when he relied on his inner resources & problem-solving skills to overcome challenges. This helps him turn down negative thinking. #LDchat
An anxiety log can help you spot patterns in your student's behavior and help you choose calming strategies that work. Download our printable templates: https://t.co/ETukpsoQaM#LDchat
my son was just diagnosed with adhd & anxiety. is it best to do counselling to teach him how to handle his anxiety? he is very argumentative when doing any homework, especially when he gets it wrong. #LDchat
A3: Your child won't completely rid himself of anxiety, but by changing how he responds he’ll regain a sense of control. The goal is to access inner resources to feel confident enough to go towards the fear & manage setbacks. #LDchat
A3. Older stuents with ADHD aren't likely to speak up. Consider emotions (open dialogue). Live in the moment (avoid past failures). Take a chance (trust builds risk-taking). #LDchat
There are many ways to enlist professional help. From pediatricians and psychologists to teachers and coaches, here are 13 options to consider for your student with #ADHD and #anxiety: https://t.co/EVPTpxaUpE#LDchat
Q3. As someone less than a year from entering student teaching, I am very interested to see what advice is out there for assisting students with LD's. Often times in our "teacher training" I feel the focus is on simple, blanket classroom management strategies. #LDchat
A4: Encourage her to write down something that causes anxiety. Have her name it & the negative thoughts associated with these worries. Now, have her think of a time when she did something similar that required her to overcome hesitation or avoidance. What motivated her? #LDchat
The challenges students with #ADHD face in the classroom, can often cause symptoms of #anxiety. Here are five types of classroom accommodations that may help: https://t.co/dETu50eGkA#LDchat
A4: Signaling the start of a lesson with a timer or bell, listing keywords or activities on the board, telling students what they’re going to learn and what the expectations are when opening the lesson. #LDchat
A4: Making sure that Ss have the appropriate accommodations in their learning to access themselves and curriculum in the way that is best for THEM. #UDL#LDchat
We want to teach kids who anxious more self-soothing techniques. Help them remember times when they overcame a worry and did something anyway. Anxiety creates amnesia about bravery. #LDchat
If your student is being treated for #anxiety, it's crucial to be in contact with your mental health provider about school strategies. Here are three types of classroom accommodations to consider: https://t.co/Q5MyZqcE0Z#LDchat
A4: Signaling the start of a lesson with a timer or bell, listing keywords or activities on the board, telling students what they’re going to learn and what the expectations are when opening the lesson. #LDchat