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#ADHD Childhood, a thread:
I found a bunch of my school reports from when I was a kid.
Crying reading through these. Utterly heartbreaking. How concerns weren& #39;t raised about ADHD/learning difficulties amazes me.
Here are a selection of (abridged) observations over the years.
I found a bunch of my school reports from when I was a kid.
Crying reading through these. Utterly heartbreaking. How concerns weren& #39;t raised about ADHD/learning difficulties amazes me.
Here are a selection of (abridged) observations over the years.
1993 - I was about 7 years old...
"Steven has a lot of ability which is not often reflected in the quality of his work. He needs to learn to concentrate ... If he is to fulfil his potential"
Also, "Steven has a lot of growing up to do..."
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😐" title="Neutrales Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Neutrales Gesicht"> I was 7 JFC.
"Steven has a lot of ability which is not often reflected in the quality of his work. He needs to learn to concentrate ... If he is to fulfil his potential"
Also, "Steven has a lot of growing up to do..."
I was 7 JFC." title="1993 - I was about 7 years old..."Steven has a lot of ability which is not often reflected in the quality of his work. He needs to learn to concentrate ... If he is to fulfil his potential"Also, "Steven has a lot of growing up to do..." https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😐" title="Neutrales Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Neutrales Gesicht"> I was 7 JFC.">
I was 7 JFC." title="1993 - I was about 7 years old..."Steven has a lot of ability which is not often reflected in the quality of his work. He needs to learn to concentrate ... If he is to fulfil his potential"Also, "Steven has a lot of growing up to do..." https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😐" title="Neutrales Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Neutrales Gesicht"> I was 7 JFC.">
1994 - 8 Years old
"His mind is so busy that sometimes he finds it quite difficult to concentrate on one subject at a time..."
"He is a very talkative child"
So, starting to see a pattern here, as a parent myself, reading through these is eye opening.
"His mind is so busy that sometimes he finds it quite difficult to concentrate on one subject at a time..."
"He is a very talkative child"
So, starting to see a pattern here, as a parent myself, reading through these is eye opening.
1997 - 11 years old, just before starting secondary/high school.
"When interested Steven has shown the ability to sustain concentration ... He loves to talk but not always at the appropriate time"
Interest in new things that quickly wanes with repetition is common in ADHD
"When interested Steven has shown the ability to sustain concentration ... He loves to talk but not always at the appropriate time"
Interest in new things that quickly wanes with repetition is common in ADHD
These next few are a gut punch...
"often slow to settle"
"produces work that is unreflective of his ability"
"Lack of concentration"
"often makes careless mistakes"
It& #39;s like they were lifted straigh from the DSM-5. Let& #39;s see what other gems we find.
"often slow to settle"
"produces work that is unreflective of his ability"
"Lack of concentration"
"often makes careless mistakes"
It& #39;s like they were lifted straigh from the DSM-5. Let& #39;s see what other gems we find.
"lacks consistency"
"Has good ability ... but is still failing to achieve his potential"
"Steven has a lively and enquiring mind"
This is where the tears started, I don& #39;t blame my parents for not picking up the signs...
"Has good ability ... but is still failing to achieve his potential"
"Steven has a lively and enquiring mind"
This is where the tears started, I don& #39;t blame my parents for not picking up the signs...
ADHD can be hereditary and this may have all looked normal to them. Maybe they saw the overall scores and were satisfied that I was doing fine.
I don& #39;t remember much of my childhood, no idea why (prob not paying attention) so it& #39;s hard for me to really reflect on any of this.
I don& #39;t remember much of my childhood, no idea why (prob not paying attention) so it& #39;s hard for me to really reflect on any of this.
"Steven is an able boy who could achieve his potential if he avoided his tendency to chatter and recognised the value of concentrated attention."
Well shit. The balls in telling an 11 year old that he needs to "recognise the value of concentrated attention".
Well shit. The balls in telling an 11 year old that he needs to "recognise the value of concentrated attention".
I think it& #39;s pretty clear that there are some strong traits coming through. I do remember feedback always being that I had so much potential blah blah. Question is, what support was I given to help with this?
No prizes for guessing that one correctly...
No prizes for guessing that one correctly...
1999 - Year 8, 13 years old.
Oop! I see a cheeky little "lack of concentration" tucked away in there.
Oop! I see a cheeky little "lack of concentration" tucked away in there.
My self assessment was stellar, particularly proud of my super neat handwriting.
No point in quoting here, it& #39;s a common thread across subjects, concentration, presentation, distractions, potential...
Every year the same damn thing.
No point in quoting here, it& #39;s a common thread across subjects, concentration, presentation, distractions, potential...
Every year the same damn thing.
"Tends to be a little immature" https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Denkendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Denkendes Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Denkendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Denkendes Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Denkendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Denkendes Gesicht"> surely they weren& #39;t talking about me https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Denkendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Denkendes Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Denkendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Denkendes Gesicht"> surely they weren& #39;t talking about me https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">" title=""Tends to be a little immature" https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Denkendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Denkendes Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Denkendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Denkendes Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Denkendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Denkendes Gesicht"> surely they weren& #39;t talking about me https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
2001 - Year 10, 15 years old
Highlighting the final analysis from the Head of House. Based on what& #39;s he& #39;s read, he lands on "needs to put in much more effort"
I was putting a LOT of effort in, I just couldn& #39;t maintain the level of energy required to keep my mind focussed.
Highlighting the final analysis from the Head of House. Based on what& #39;s he& #39;s read, he lands on "needs to put in much more effort"
I was putting a LOT of effort in, I just couldn& #39;t maintain the level of energy required to keep my mind focussed.
One final snippet from my year 12 report.
As the years went on, reading these I notice that a lot of my teachers use phrases such as "Steven needs to understand that his coursework contributes to his final grade".
This is actually this first time I knew about that. I don& #39;t remember ever being told this up front...
This is actually this first time I knew about that. I don& #39;t remember ever being told this up front...
...it is possible that the teachers did, but hey, I wasn& #39;t paying attention anyway right? Maybe mum and dad did? Knowing them though, that& #39;s doubtful.
I don& #39;t blame anyone for missing the signs, teachers have a lot of responsibilities and things can get missed easily
I don& #39;t blame anyone for missing the signs, teachers have a lot of responsibilities and things can get missed easily
What I do find shocking is how consistent the reports are over time, and how across different subjects and teachers it was the same story.
Tragically, I guess it was the fact that I showed potential and didn& #39;t disrupt things too badly that led to me being overlooked.
Tragically, I guess it was the fact that I showed potential and didn& #39;t disrupt things too badly that led to me being overlooked.
It& #39;s so interesting reading these today as a diagnosed, medicated adult. Especially with the ability to see these all at once, certainly eye opening. I wish things had been different and I got the support that I clearly needed so much earlier.
There are many many many more kids out there who are undoubtedly facing the same challenges. Teachers, please keep an eye out for them and do what you can to help. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💜" title="Violettes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Violettes Herz">
