Having a neurodiverse child can be challenging, especially in regards to school and learning. After thousands of hours working one-on-one with students, Ian Siegel realized that many students have lost sight of what makes them so special with a unique capacity to learn.

Ian employs an unconventional but extremely effective approach to excavating the incredible learner that exists in each student he works with. He is the CEO of Streamline Learning and the creator of the iSavant assessment.

In this episode of the Soaring Child podcast, Ian and Dana Kay discussed some of the challenges of the traditional classroom for neurodiverse students. Ian answered the question, "How does ADHD affect a students' ability to take a standardized test, and what can parents do to help their students be successful with tests, homework, and learning as a whole?"

Key Takeaways:

[3:20] Common challenges Ian has noticed when tutoring neurodiverse students

[7:47] Ian's research into brilliance and neurological distress

[10:15] Eye-opening research about neurodiverse students' brilliance

[15:19] Strategies to unlock a students' brilliance

[23:45] Common problems neurodiverse students face with schools

[27:46] How ADHD affects a students' ability to take a standardized test (and what parents can do to help their students)

[30:48] How parents can help students with homework

[34:36] 1:1 tutoring versus classroom learning

[45:15] Where to find Ian online

Memorable Moments:

"What I'm seeing is not even kids who are struggling to get A's. That's not the problem. It's more struggling to accept themselves."

"I'm not convinced that we really know how brilliant kids are at this point because we're only seeing the effects of their environment…of institutions like school that I simply think do not do the job, especially for neurodiverse students."

"Once we start to really pay attention to environmental factors, especially with students who are neurodiverse, there's this incredible bend in how students can transform to really get in touch with their brilliance."

"The kids who are the most brilliant are often the most distracted, the most anxious…"

"A lot of these students who have so much capacity are fundamentally inhibited by the fact that their brains are under fire."

"All negative things in your brain can be explained by a reaction to your environment. It's not you. It's not you at all."

"You've been judging your child and yourself within the framework of an institution that doesn't get the job done."

"Let's change our neurological environment so that they can work."

"If they're behaving in negative ways, that's communication. They're letting you know something is not right with the environment potentially."

"If you don't really give that strong message of self-acceptance, then the percentage of time their brain will be devoted to, 'Am I okay?"…and then either falling into distracted, anxious, or depressed patterns as a reaction to it….it's crazy."

"We are leaving people - kids - really vulnerable in this world by not actually having them integrate what they learn."

"Invite your children to learn by learning about them."

"One thing I noticed about having your brain on fire is that it limits your ability to really stay connected to other people."

"Brilliance comes in many forms: emotional intelligence, straight up IQ, insane memories, perceptual abilities…People are not thinking broadly enough."

How to Connect with Ian Seigel

Website: https://www.streamlinelearning.com/

Email: [email protected]

Book: https://www.amazon.ca/School-Sucks-Your-Child-Doesnt-ebook/dp/B0BV8JBDVJ

Dana Kay Resources:

Website: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/mycompany/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute

International Best Selling Book, Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/

Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass – https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl

ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd

ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/