#LDchat Archive
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.
Wednesday June 22, 2016
Welcome to today’s LD Chat! This is Dan with the Understood team. I'll be moderating the chat with .
Cohosting today’s chat is bestselling author and expert, Dr. Ned Hallowell ().
Hi folks, Marvin from Fresno, CA here for !
- Enjoyed your Webinar yesterday!
Hi Marvin! Thanks for joining today. How are things in Fresno?
Hello Dr Hallowell. Thank you for your life changing work. My sons and I deeply appreciate it :-)
Very well! We’re in here at so still busy with students working hard.
Hi Kerri! Always great to have you!
We’ll use a Q1, Q2… format for questions. Please use the A1, A2… format for answers.
Always great to be here. Looking forward to chatting today!
Melody here. We're an initiative of connecting patients with resources + each other. Licensed social worker.
First question coming up...
Great to have you, Melody!
Great! Enjoying the summery day!
Q1. 9-10% of kids ages 3-17 in the US have been diagnosed with . If it’s so common, why does ADHD carry a stigma?
Q1. 9-10% of kids ages 3-17 in the US have been diagnosed with . If it’s so common, why does ADHD carry a stigma?
Fishing for more teacher leaders! Turn your idea into an action plan - apply for the Long Beach https://t.co/tWduE17XtM
A1. is not at all well understood. We’re starting to break stereotypes of what adhd “looks” like, but not there yet.
Excited to chat with . His books are great resources for living + coping with .
Did you know that 9-10% of kids ages 3-17 in the US have been diagnosed with ? We're discussing NOW: https://t.co/fF1abM80X5
Education is the key to reversing stigma....but it's along haul
Understood is doing amazing work in education
So why do you think people are resistant to believe that ADHD is real?
Especially in a system that still categorizes its students.
It is a struggle to deal with ADHD and I am 56 now.
This means prevalence is about the same as —has become better understood publicly IMO. Hope? https://t.co/oHWs1awYUl
Did you know that 9-10% of kids ages 3-17 in the US have been diagnosed with ? We're discussing NOW: https://t.co/fF1abM80X5
Do you find it harder to deal with now or when you were younger?
A1: I think the expectations within our classrooms are very difficult for active, energetic children
When first diagnosed, learning and educating oneself & family about can be key in coping. https://t.co/psbzGiMfPR
Education is the key to reversing stigma....but it's along haul
It's hard to believe some people don't believe ADD is real. Like believing the world is flat
We can’t forget that adults struggle with ADD/ADHD too. Very important.
https://t.co/5MuQQK9mL0
It is a struggle to deal with ADHD and I am 56 now.
They can't see it, nor is it easy to see beyond their own experience of the world.
Yes, adults, especially adult women, are the largest undiagnosed group
A1: Especially within the Early childhood stage! Our classrooms need to be active & vibrant places, but......
YES! We're our own best advocate.
Why is that, do you think?
A1: But ALSO teaching & Modeling calming strategies for our young learners.
And we see this a lot in .
https://t.co/hI5Pwphrxs
Yes, adults, especially adult women, are the largest undiagnosed group
Denial is a powerful defense against learning something new.
Is this a chat group or a podcast?
Once adults get the diagnosis their lives can change dramatically for the better, just with insight alone
Q2. The brains of kids with develop differently than their peers’. How can this knowledge reduce stigma?
Once you realize ADHD is bran based, rather than morally or character based, stigma loses force and understanding rushes in
Diagnosed with and at 28, after self-diagnosing. Finally able to go to college b/c of accommodations!
Absolutely! It was like opening the door to a whole new world for me.
That's terrific! Accommodations can make a world of difference.
A1. And not a product of bad parenting
Getting an accurate diagnosis is key to getting the treatment right! https://t.co/qoeLEixEwx
Once you realize ADHD is bran based, rather than morally or character based, stigma loses force and understanding rushes in
A2: I think as families & educators start to understand how the brain functions of children/people w ADHD.....
Hi, saw you tweet, thought I'd join. idek what's going on.
A2. Those giant pumpkins take longer to grow than the teeny ones, and you can make a lot more pie out of them ;) ()
- tweets questions with Q1 Q2 etc format, answers given with A1 A2 format :).
A2: the more prepared & aware of how these children/people need to set up their environments & how they learn
Though frustrated parents can exacerbate it.
And treatment should always be strength based. I don't treat disabilities, I help people unwrap their gifts.
I ALWAYS invite anyone that says ADD or ADHD don't exist to my classroom!
- Agreed. Parent training, support groups are important
Q3. What are some of the myths surrounding kids and , and how do these myths contribute to stigma?
The model of ADD as a Ferrari brain with bicycle brakes is a great one to dispel stigma. It recognizes both upside and downside
what r your thoughts on adults still dealing with ADHD?
How do you tolerate kids with ADHD in the morning and treat it as a gift?
That model helped me a lot :-) The wheels on my Ferrari also move at different speeds.
I am not saying ADD is a gift; I am saying it is part great, part troublesome. You get the best results by recognizing both parts
my Ss & my brother w ADHD were always the outcasts & at times were left out of activities or the classroom
A3. Kids with aren’t always hyper or disruptive or “bad”! And unfortunately these are the kids who get missed.
ADHD without disruptive behavior usually gets missed. More common in females than in males
A1. Myths abound - like it's not a real thing, it's a boy thing...
*waves again* haha :) https://t.co/UYbCR26qGx
ADHD without disruptive behavior usually gets missed. More common in females than in males
Q4. What are the effects and impact of stigma on kids with ?
A4. Reluctance to self-identify as having , or self advocate.
Stigma creates the really damaging disabilities: shame, fear, belief that you are stupid and defective, loss of hope
A4. Stigma can interfere with getting the right kind of support
. Any resources, organizations or groups for this you'd recommend to others?
A4. “ADHD doesn’t define me, but it helps explain me.” I can still own the label of positively.
. Yes! And take into account personal preferences.
Bingo!
https://t.co/6eFMx1jtNW
A4. “ADHD doesn’t define me, but it helps explain me.” I can still own the label of positively.
https://t.co/Gsc3TvFbTU is an incredible resource for parents. CHADD is a great organization. And grass roots groups do great good
Q5. What trends have you seen in the field that are working to reduce the stigma of ?
I have both ADHD and dyslexia. Once I learned to master them, they have served me well.
I probably partly stole it/modified it from somewhere, but it’s true!
A5. To an extent, I think modifying the look/definition of the classroom and learning itself, broadening it, helps destigmatize ADHD
Recent research points to YES.
This is actually a more recent research thing too—maybe can answer to adult-developed ADHD w/o childhood sx?
- interesting, what kinds of changes?
Only a couple more minutes before we wrap up. Any final thoughts?
A5: has started up & here on Twitter. More for adults with ADD. Great place to shake off stigma.
Re: classrooms? Active learning spaces, options for assessment, using strength-based learning to build weak areas
