ADHD, Autism & Neurodiversity
How ADHD and autism overlap with dyslexia, and what we can and cannot assess.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide, and frequently co-occurs with dyslexia.
There are three presentations of ADHD: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined. Many adults with ADHD were not diagnosed in childhood and may have developed coping strategies that mask their difficulties.
Common signs of ADHD
Executive Functioning
ADHD affects executive functioning, the mental skills behind planning, organising, starting tasks and managing emotions.
In the Workplace
Adults with ADHD may struggle with time management, meeting deadlines, and managing workload. Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act help.
In Education
Students with ADHD may benefit from extra time, a separate room for exams, and strategies to manage distractions. Look for signs of attention and concentration difficulties that can be used for DSA
Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects social communication, social interaction, and sensory processing. It is a spectrum condition, and no two autistic people are the same.
Autistic individuals may have areas of exceptional strength alongside areas of difficulty. Many autistic people also have dyslexia, ADHD, or other co-occurring conditions.
A diagnosis of autism is made by a multi-disciplinary team. Positive Dyslexia does not diagnose autism but can identify co- occurring dyslexia and provide recommendations for support.
How we can help
Embracing neurodiversity
Neurodiversity is the idea that neurological differences, including dyslexia, ADHD, autism, dyscalculia and dyspraxia, are natural variations. Neurodivergent people bring their own strengths to education and work.
Creative Thinking
Many neurodivergent people are strong creative and lateral thinkers.
Hyperfocus
The ability to hyperfocus on areas of interest can lead to exceptional expertise and achievement in specific domains.
Attention to Detail
Many autistic individuals have exceptional attention to detail and pattern recognition, valuable in many professional fields.
Empathy
Many neurodivergent individuals demonstrate high levels of empathy and emotional intelligence, particularly in understanding others' experiences.