All posts tagged: neurodivergent

Your Child's Struggle To Count Backwards Could Flag Neurodivergent Condition

Your Child's Struggle To Count Backwards Could Flag Neurodivergent Condition

Published by Sam Flores

!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement(‘iframe’);t.display=’none’,t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement(‘script’);c.src=”//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js”,c.setAttribute(‘async’,’1′),c.setAttribute(‘type’,’text/javascript’),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document);(new Image()).src=”https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb”;cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({“playerId”:”8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb”,”mediaId”:”15eeb282-4e22-410b-8421-550481b8fb9f”}).render(“6a0dc310e4b079e4ea34a5fd”);}); Dyscalculia – sometimes referred to as “number dyslexia” – is a difficulty in understanding and working with numbers. It’s thought around one in 20 children struggle with the learning difficulty, which is also a form of neurodivergence.  People with dyscalculia will typically process and understand numbers and mathematical concepts differently to neurotypical people.  One of the signs of this learning difference, according to Evolve Psychology, is difficulty counting backwards.  Other signs include:  Mixing up numbers like 6 and 9 Still using finger counting in Year 4 despite extra help Difficulty understanding what numbers mean beyond memorisation Struggling to line up numbers correctly in maths problems Challenges learning and recalling basic number facts, like times tables or simple addition Problems telling the time, handling money and following multi-stage calculations Difficulties estimating quantities and measurements Showing anxiety around maths and avoiding number-based tasks Being unexpectedly behind in maths compared to other subjects. Clinical psychologist Dr Elyse Bensusan, who partnered with Explore Learning, suggested the learning difference can show up in ways that are “easy to dismiss” at …

When Therapy Misreads Neurodivergent Clients

When Therapy Misreads Neurodivergent Clients

Published by Jenni Sidey

One of the most pointed critiques of psychoanalysis came from Karl Popper, writing in Conjectures and Refutations(1963). When he looked at psychoanalysts’ work, he found that he was looking at something resembling “astrology rather than astronomy” (Popper, 1963). Studying these theories, he wrote, had the effect of an “intellectual conversion or revelation”: once your eyes were opened, you saw confirming instances everywhere, and the world seemed full of verifications. Anyone who failed to see what you saw was either blinded by class interest or suffering from repressions that had not yet been analysed (Popper, 1963). His main point is that Freud had built a theory that could not really be tested. A theory is meaningful, Popper argued, only if it tells you what would prove it wrong. Freud’s theory, on Popper’s account, cannot be falsified, and rules nothing out. For any behaviour a patient might present, and for its opposite just as readily, an interpretation is already waiting, so nothing the patient does could ever count against the theory. A theory that sets out to …

Misophonia and Neurodivergent Burnout | Psychology Today

Misophonia and Neurodivergent Burnout | Psychology Today

Published by Jenni Sidey

Burnout is a concept that is most commonly referred to in autism, ADHD, and AuDHD circles and research. Since misophonia is most likely a neurophysiological condition and neurodivergent (Brout et al, 2018), with a sensory-motor and brain basis (Kumar, 2021), it is not surprising that persons with misophonia also experience burnout. Burnout refers to a sensory state that is beyond shutdown (the point where persons with neurodivergent conditions are no longer able to function properly), and is caused by persistent exposure to triggers, masking (refers to the process of acting ‘normal’ or hiding misophonia), and an overall lack of capacity to regulate the nervous system. Since persons with misophonia are in fight-flight-freeze whenever they are triggered by the misophonic response, it stands to reason that burnout is the end result of not being able to regulate one’s nervous system. Burnout is not just an emotional or psychological state; it is a physiological state where the nervous system is taxed beyond its capacity. Common symptoms of burnout are exhaustion, limited function, a ‘low battery,’ social withdrawal, …

People With Neurodivergent Traits Have A Rare Social Superpower Says Study

People With Neurodivergent Traits Have A Rare Social Superpower Says Study

Published by Jenni Sidey

Historically, society has made the assumption that individuals with autism or other neurodivergent conditions lack social cues. This thinking has created a space where neurodivergent people are belittled or even infantilized.  Determined to discover the reason behind the misunderstanding, scientists have started to research the way the neurodivergent brain reacts within interpersonal relationships. A study conducted recently combats this idea of “lacking social cues” by presenting the idea that the disconnect is due to mismatched communication styles.  Those with neurodivergent tendencies communicate differently due to unique social processing. Neurodivergent people have often been categorized as “socially awkward”, with others assuming that it is due to a lack of theory of mind. The “theory of mind” is a term in psychology used to define our ability to understand what others are thinking and feeling as a cognitive resource.  However, being neurodivergent doesn’t stop you from comprehending others’ emotional states; you just respond to them differently.  Polina Zimmerman | Pixels The Double Empathy Problem highlights that neurotypical and neurodivergent people may not communicate as smoothly together because …

Should SATs Be Scrapped? These Parents Are Calling For Change

Should SATs Be Scrapped? These Parents Are Calling For Change

Published by Sam Flores

EastEnders actress Kellie Bright is leading the charge for SATs to be scrapped in schools. In England, SATs – or standard assessment tests – may be taken twice during primary school: once when kids are six or seven (at the discretion of the school), and again when they’re 10 or 11 (these are compulsory). It’s a way for the government to measure a school’s performance and give secondary schools an indication of how well a child’s doing in maths and English before they move up. With Year 6 SATs currently underway (starting 11 May), a collective of parents, particularly those with children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities), are calling for the exams to be scrapped for good due to the overwhelm, anxiety and stress they cause. It comes after Childline revealed May is the peak season for children to call the service about exam stress – between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026; the free, confidential service for kids delivered 1,679 counselling sessions where exam or revision stress was mentioned. The majority …

Child With ADHD Being Rude Or Aggressive – Parenting Tips

Child With ADHD Being Rude Or Aggressive – Parenting Tips

Published by Sam Flores

As both a mum and a therapist, I’ve seen it all. I’ve been on the receiving end of eye-rolls, sarcastic remarks, and shouting (my own child has ADHD). I’ve also supported parent clients whose children have lashed out physically. And let me tell you, the shame that comes with it can feel almost as overwhelming as the behaviour itself. It’s something I’m sure some parents reading this have experienced, as well as those judgemental and even worried looks or comments from other adults. But you are not a bad parent, and these are not bad kids. Rudeness and ADHD (as well as other neurodivergent profiles) often go hand-in-hand. It is not a reflection of your child’s character, nor of your parenting. It stems from differences in impulse control and emotional regulation, and it can show up as a fight-or-flight response – sometimes in words, sometimes in actions, and sometimes in full-blown physical aggression. Understanding the ADHD brain Think of the brain’s amygdala as a yappy little Chihuahua – the guard dog of our nervous system. …

‘Body Doubling’ Could Help Kids With ADHD Focus On Revision

‘Body Doubling’ Could Help Kids With ADHD Focus On Revision

Published by Sam Flores

Body doubling – where a person with ADHD works nearby or alongside another person to keep them focused on the task at hand – isn’t a new technique, but ADHD experts are increasingly recommending it as a strategy to help support task completion. While plenty of adults already use it to plough through their daily workload, parents are also trying it to support their kids with homework or revision – especially the more boring stuff that’s hard to make a start on. I first came across the concept when psychotherapist Jessica VanderWier, of Nurtured First Parenting, shared some of the parenting strategies she would try in her own home if she had a child with ADHD. In addition to being structured with how much (and what type of) screen time kids encounter, and offering lots of opportunities for movement, she noted that she would also try “body doubling” when kids feel stuck and unable to start a task. “Body doubling is when you are present and doing something in the same space that your child …

Neurodivergent Job Interviews: Why AuDHD Talent Is Being Filtered Out Of The Hiring Market”

Neurodivergent Job Interviews: Why AuDHD Talent Is Being Filtered Out Of The Hiring Market”

Published by Sam Flores

Since last July, Edward James Herath, a brand and strategic comms consultant, has taken part in more than 120 job interviews. The feedback is often the same: he’s “too direct,” “too honest,” “abrupt,” or “confrontational.” Herath, 39, who is diagnosed with autism and ADHD (AuDHD), believes his literal and questioning demeanor is costing him jobs. He finds interviews particularly difficult because of their “indirect, passive-aggressive, and theatrical communication style,” he tells HuffPost UK. He believes they measure how he performs under pressure rather than his ability to do the job, and his real self – someone who cares deeply about his relationships and career – doesn’t come across. “There’s a strong emphasis on reading between the lines and softening language,” he says. For someone who values clarity, that’s a difficult tone to strike. Hearth is by no means alone in this struggle. Research suggests neurodivergence is widely seen as a barrier to employment. A 2024 Zurich survey of 1,000 neurodivergent adults in the UK found more than half believed recruitment processes were designed to filter …

Rethinking Social Skills for Neurodivergent Kids

Rethinking Social Skills for Neurodivergent Kids

Published by Jenni Sidey

Sam Young, M.Ed., is the founder of the Young Scholars Academy, a virtual learning community for bright and differently wired students. His work centers on helping young people build on their strengths rather than emphasizing perceived deficits. Through his work, Sam sees how neurodivergent kids connect and how social development can unfold more naturally in environments where they feel understood and engaged. Debra: What’s different about how neurodivergent students connect with others? Sam: One of the hardest things is that many neurotypical social norms don’t fit. There are many harmful misconceptions, like the idea that our kids don’t want to connect or socialize. We have to reset expectations, especially as parents. Debra: So, if it’s not that they don’t want connection, how do they connect? Sam: Kids intersect at their interests. Many kids have unique brains with deep, passionate focus areas. So they might talk at people about a strength or interest. And many people think, “Oh, we should fix that,” when in reality, that’s passion. When you put people who are passionate about the …

Why It Feels Like Therapy Doesn’t Work For Your Child

Why It Feels Like Therapy Doesn’t Work For Your Child

Published by Sam Flores

We often hear the phrase: you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. It’s a useful way to think about therapy. Therapy has enormous value. I believe in it both personally and professionally. It can offer insight, structure, and a safe space to explore difficult feelings, their origins, and what might be possible in the future. I say that as someone who has spent years training and working as a psychotherapist, and as someone who has also sat in the therapy room myself. But something has been bothering me for some time now. Therapy asks a great deal of the person in front of us. It asks them to take what is explored in a 50-minute session and carry it into the complexity of everyday life. To notice thoughts in real time, reflect on feelings, and apply strategies when emotions are already running high. This relies on metacognition – the ability to think about one’s own thinking, to pause, reflect, and respond rather than react. That is demanding for many …