Welcome to our first St. Mary S.P.I.C.E. Newsletter! We are very happy to present this edition to you, and we appreciate your support in our causes. This Fall Season will present awareness information about ADHD, which stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD SPECIAL NEEDS AWARENESS
💙 1. How Common Is ADHD?
ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children and continues into adulthood for many people. Around 5% of children worldwide are estimated to have ADHD, and millions of adults live with it as well. In the United States, about 1 in 9 children has been diagnosed with ADHD. Experts believe many people, especially girls, women, and older adults, may still go undiagnosed because their symptoms can look different from traditional stereotypes.
💙 2. Different Wiring, Not Broken Wiring:
ADHD is not caused by poor parenting, laziness, or a lack of effort. It is a neurodevelopmental condition, which means the brain develops and works somewhat differently. Research has found differences in brain areas involved in attention, selfcontrol, organization, motivation, and emotions, as well as in brain chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine. These differences can make certain everyday tasks more challenging, but they can also be associated with strengths such as creativity, curiosity, enthusiasm, and problem-solving. Children and adults with ADHD are not broken. Their brains simply process information differently.
💙 3. How ADHD Shows Up:
ADHD can look different from one person to another. Some people mainly struggle with paying attention, some are more hyperactive or impulsive, and others experience a combination of both. Parents may notice that a child has difficulty following instructions, staying organized, completing tasks, remembering daily responsibilities, or paying attention for long periods. Other children may seem constantly on the go, talk a lot, interrupt conversations, act before thinking, or have trouble waiting their turn. To be diagnosed with ADHD, symptoms must be present for at least six months, begin during childhood, appear in more than one setting (such as home and school), and interfere with daily life.
💙 4. The Full Picture: Challenges and Strengths
It’s important to see the whole picture. While ADHD can bring real challenges in school, work, and relationships, many individuals with ADHD also exhibit strengths that come with that same wiring — including enhanced creativity, inventive problemsolving, and the ability to hyperfocus on things they love. When the right systems, tools, and environments are in place, that different wiring can produce its best work.
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