How is ADHD Different in Kids?
Most parents ask this question, and although typical, the answer is quite complicated. Kids are not the same. One child with ADHD can exhibit vastly different symptoms from the next child, even with the same diagnosis.
Gavin and Matthew are a few examples of this phenomenon. They are the same age, come from strikingly similar backgrounds, and even attended the same school since kindergarten. They were both formally diagnosed with ADHD, slow processing, and the same form of dyslexia at the age of 9. They did not, however, need the same therapy. While both were very social, Matthew was quite popular, whereas Gavin was shunned by his peers. Their personas were simply very different. Upon working with them closely, I realized that Matthew was triggered differently than Gavin and therefore needed to learn how to manage his issues differently than his classmate. Confidence, or the lack thereof, played a vital role in their therapy. Gavin thrived when he was heard and understood, while Matthew was competitive and thrill-seeking. Matthew could make eye contact, and Gavin missed social cues. They also had noticeable differences in their ability to recall information. Gavin could remember finite details of a story or list, whereas Matthew only recalled the first part of a list or story. The list of their differences, rather than similarities, went on and on. Same diagnosis, different kids, dissimilar challenges.
Finding the right educational support can help pinpoint a child’s challenges and needs. No perfect remediation addresses all individuals with ADHD or any other learning diagnosis in the same way. What works well for one child, won’t necessarily remediate issues for another. There are forums online that are helpful. CHADD is one great resource for ADHD. Orton-Gillingham is a great source of information about remediation for dyslexia.
