ADHD / AUTISM / EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Sometimes people assume that they have ADD, and not ADHD. The fact is that there is only one condition - ADHD, whilst hyperactivity and inattention are the two main symptom clusters.
It’s increasingly recognised that many adults also live with ADHD, often undiagnosed due to the mistaken assumption that the disorder is limited to children. The presenting issues of an adult with ADHD are similar to those of children, though in many cases adults have learnt to regulate their behaviours rather than overcome the urges towards them. ADHD can arise in childhood and often last into adulthood.
The condition is the same, although it may manifest differently as one gets older. Generally, but not always, the hyperactivity and impulsivity in children would draw more attention from parents and teachers. Distractibility is often a key component. What we tend to find is that as people go from teenage years to early adulthood, hyperactivity and impulsivity tend to fade out with the years. For adults who have not previously been diagnosed it might be that the difficulties they have with concentration, organization and prioritising their time and tasks, often tends to bring them to the attention of medical professionals.
AUTISM SPECTRUM CONDITION
Autism Spectrum Condition is a spectrum disorder, which means it affects people in different ways and in varying degrees. It usually appears by age 2 or 3.
People with autism can experience difficulties in understanding verbal & facial expressions, which in turn makes it hard for them to express themselves.
People with autism may have problems with learning but good at things that involve memory. Because of this, they might do especially well on tests, analysis or problem-solving.
Whilst it seems that autism is on the rise, the increase in numbers may actually be due to changes in how the condition is diagnosed, not because there has been a growth in cases. In the case of adults, and particularly when it comes to autism in women, it has been established that whilst many people may have been living with the symptoms of ASC for much of their life, they have in fact learned out to mask the signs and “fit in”.
Autism can be diagnosed by a psychologist and “treatment” does not involve medication but a form of coaching or behaviour based therapy.
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Educational psychology is concerned with child development through the study of learning processes, assessing from both the cognitive and the behavioural perspective. This process allows Educational Psychologists to understand individual differences in intelligence, cognitive development, affect, motivation, self-regulation, and self-concept. Assessments rely heavily on quantitative methods, including testing and measurement, to enhance educational activities related to instructional design, classroom management, which serve to facilitate learning processes in various educational settings.
Educational psychologists are experienced in working with children and young people. They work with parents, carers, schools, nurseries and children’s social care. They also work with other services that support children and young people’s learning and social and emotional development.
They can work with an individual child, a class, group, or with a whole school when there is a concern.
