ADHD Awareness Month October 2022

October is ADHD Awareness Month and although it originated in the USA, schools in the UK and Europe have adopted the event to increase knowledge and understanding of the condition. There is a different topic explored each year and for 2022, the topic is ‘ADHD: Understanding a Shared Experience’.

ADHD Awareness Month was founded by three organisations:

The ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO) is the professional membership organization for ADHD coaches, a non-profit association created to advance the profession of ADHD coaching worldwide.

The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) is the world’s leading adult ADHD organization. Their mission is to provide information, resources and networking opportunities to help adults with ADHD lead better lives.

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) is the leading resource on ADHD. CHADD provide support, training, education and advocacy for the 17 million children and adults in the United States living with ADHD, their families, educators, and healthcare professionals.

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, known as ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental condition that is defined by persistent patterns of hyperactivity and/or inattention. There are 3 types of ADHD: impulsive/hyperactive, inattentive/distracted and combined. Combined is the most common type, characterised by having both impulsive and hyperactive behaviour and being inattentive and distracted. Boys are 2/3 times more likely to be affected than girls, however, like ASD, it is thought that masking may have an affect on missed/late diagnoses in females. Some of the main features of ADHD are:

Impulsive/hyperactive: Talking and moving quickly, rushing around, difficulty staying on task, interrupting people, speaking without thinking, risk taking

Inattentive/distracted: Getting easily distracted, daydreaming, poor concentration, being disorganised, losing belongings, clumsiness

Understanding a Shared Experience

This year’s awareness month topic brings the knowledge of professionals involved in assessing and treating ADHD, together with the experiences of people who live with it. The adhdawarenessmonth.org website shares viewer videos of ADHD experiences and also features a different professional voice each week through the month. Topics covered include the ADHD assessment process, ADHD in adults and how ADHD affects families.

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Aimee Tinney
As a neurodivergent individual I can understand the struggles people face. Early intervention and a supportive network have helped me find strategies to navigate life with my dyspraxic profile. I love working as a nursery manager and feel well placed to work with SEND children and their parents as I have so much firsthand experience. I write blogs to spread the message about SEN needs and hope that people get as much enjoyment and insight out of reading them as I do by writing them!

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