Neuroversity

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Whether you are finding this in October, for ADHD Awareness Month, or just coming across this episode now; consider this a great place to start in gaining an introduction to ADHD.

In this episode you will learn:

• What is ADHD
• The prevalence of ADHD in the US and among boys vs girls
• The three type of ADHD
• The most common behaviors found within each type
• How someone gets diagnosed
• Treatment options 

**Neuroversity is not a place that provides diagnoses, just a space to provide information and support.

The resources cited in this episode are:
https://chadd.org/about-adhd/overview/ 

https://chadd.org/for-adults/overview/

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html 

https://chadd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Finding-a-Professional-to-Diagnose-Treat-ADHD_QF.pdf

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What do you think of when you hear the word "masking"?

Since it's October, perhaps your thoughts go to Halloween and costumes?
Or perhaps, if you are into self-care, you may think of skin care?
Or in our post COVID world, maybe you think of face masks?

But none of those are the masking we are talking about in Neuroversity this week.
In psychology, masking refers to changing one’s behavior or natural personality to conform to social pressures or expectations.   And for many marginalized communities, masking can be necessary for survival.  

Guided by the work of Devon Price, PhD and their  book “Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity”, Jessica Kidwell takes a look at the types of masking done by neurodivergent individuals and the harmful impacts that it can have

Resources used in this episode:
Devon Price, PhD interview on NPR
https://www.npr.org/2022/04/14/1092869514/unmasking-autism-more-inclusive-world

Massachusetts General Hospital study:
"Why do those with autism avoid eye contact? Imaging studies reveal overactivation of subcortical brain structures in response to direct gaze." ScienceDaily
ScienceDaily, 15 June 2017.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170615213252.htm

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Saira Nagda is a high school senior, looking towards her future and making a difference in her community.
She is a captain of her Varsity Cross Country and Track Team. 
She is on the leadership board for her school's One Love Club, which educates students on what are healthy and unhealthy relationships.
She founded the non-profit organization, RePlay-It, which collects gently used and new sports equipment and distributes it to children globally to encourage more involvement of sport, especially for young girls.
And she has Tourette Syndrome.  Diagnosed at age 7, Saira now serves as a Youth Ambassador for the Tourette Association of America, where she helps educate others on, and dispel the myths about Tourette Syndrome.

I'm so grateful to Saira for sitting down with me to have a conversation about Tourette Syndrome; what it is, what it isn't, and how it has helped form her into the activated and incredible young woman she is today. 

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*Disclaimer: if your child has been diagnosed with SPD, or you suspect they have SPD, the best place to begin with any type of diagnostic or treatment plans is with an Occupational Therapist trained in sensory integration.  I am not an OT, and the information in this podcast series should not be used in any way to diagnose you or your child.  

In part three of our 3 part series on SPD, the focus today will be on developing a well rounded sensory diet and where the research on SPD is headed.   You will learn:

• A review of the types of SPD
  • A Sensory avoider
  • A Sensory straggler
  • A Sensory seeker 
  • A Sensory jumbler
  • A Sensory slumper
  • A Sensory fumbler 
• A review of the eight senses
  • Sight
  • Sound
  • Smell
  • Taste
  • Touch
  • Vestibular
  • Proprioceptive
  • Interoceptive
• Definition of and examples of a sensory diet
• The future direction of SPD research

Support the show by subscribing to the website!
https://www.neuroversitypod.com/

Building a Sensory Diet:
https://www.theottoolbox.com/what-is-sensory-diet/

What's Next in SPD Research:
https://neurodevelopment.ucsf.edu/neurodevelopment 

https://sensoryhealth.org/basic/our-research-priorities

https://sensoryhealth.org/basic/co-morbidity

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*Disclaimer: if your child has been diagnosed with SPD, or you suspect they have SPD, the best place to begin with any type of diagnostic or treatment plans is with an Occupational Therapist trained in sensory integration.  I am not an OT, and the information in this podcast series should not be used in any way to diagnose you or your child.  

In part two of our series on SPD, you will learn about:

• The three types of SPD
• The difference between under and overstimulation
• What is an "avoider" a "disregarder" and a "seeker" 
• Dozens of sensory processing examples 
• What to do if you suspect you or your child has SPD
• Resources to learn more about SPD

Support the show by subscribing to the website!
https://www.neuroversitypod.com/

Learn more about SPD:
https://sensoryhealth.org/
https://out-of-sync-child.com/

Learn about the sub-types of SPD:
https://sensoryhealth.org/basic/subtypes-of-spd

The Debate Over Sensory Processing Disorder:
https://childmind.org/article/the-debate-over-sensory-processing/

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*Disclaimer: if your child has been diagnosed with SPD, or you suspect they have SPD, the best place to begin with any type of diagnostic or treatment plans is with an Occupational Therapist trained in sensory integration.  I am not an OT, and the information in this podcast series should not be used in any way to diagnose you or your child.  
Today starts a special weekly series I will be doing on SPD - Sensory Processing Disorder. 

• What is it?  
• What are the symptoms?  
• What do you DO for it?  
• What exactly is a sensory diet? 
• What does the future research on SPD look like

 This is an absolutely huge topic and there is more and more research and discoveries happening with sensory processing every single day.  That’s why I’m going to break it up into parts. 

On today's episode, I introduce what is SPD as well as the EIGHT senses of our body.  Yes, I said eight.

Additional episodes will look at:

• The three types of SPD
• How our senses can be impacted by each type
• Define a sensory diet
• Where the research is headed

Today's episode featured information from:
Carol Stock Kranowitz
https://out-of-sync-child.com/

The Interoceptive System
https://www.spdstar.org/sites/default/files/file-attachments/Interoception_Info_Sheet_7_17_0.pdf

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As the dog days of summer wind down, it’s time for many of us to turn our attention on to three dreaded words, “back to school”, or maybe they’re you’re favorite three words!  Who am I to judge? 

One thing that is certain, it’s a transition, and transitions do not always go smoothly.  Especially in my neurodivergent household.  But regardless of the neurodivergence that is in your household, here are some helpful tips that could make back to school a little less rocky.  

And be sure to let me know what works for you and/or your neurodivergent household.  There are all sorts of minds and all sorts of ways to communicate.  I'm sharing ours.  Would love to hear what works for you!

Contact me at
[email protected]

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Turnabout is fair play they say, so.....
Join me as I have a conversation with the most important male voice you will ever hear on this podcast, my son Charlie.

The day I recorded the Neuroversity episode with Grace, we came home from the studio and Charlie said,
"Mom, when will you interview me?"
And, in my mind, I thought to myself
"He's not neurodivergent, does his voice and experience need to be elevated?"

I mean, talk about a small umbrella!
Charlie shares with us his experience with anxiety and depression, why he thinks mental health needs to be talked about more, and how he believes that his brain is neurodivergent.  He also introduces us to a brand new word, Danxiety.

After hearing from Charlie, I believe, neurodivergent umbrellas will open wider and see that the more we include, the better for us all.
 
About the Guest:
Charlie Kidwell is a 12 year old 7th grader from Alexandria, VA.  He has tried every sport there is and proclaims himself mediocre at all of them, loves gaming with his friends, started his own glass recycling business, and wants to learn more about the brain because, "it is cool".

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It’s time for another entry into the Word of the Week series-where I pick a word well known or often used among those in the neurodiversity community, and try to understand it more in the context of my world in hopes to build a bridge of understanding to a broader community.  

This week we will learn:

• What is hyperlexia
• The three types of hyperlexia
• The prevalence of hyperlexia in the neurodivergent population

Resources used in this episode and to learn more about hyperlexia:

https://www.ssmhealth.com/treffert-center/conditions-treatments/hyperlexia

https://www.webmd.com/children/what-is-hyperlexia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0thSo3U0U7A

https://neuroclastic.com/autistic-skill-sets/

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Today we are talking about ADHD. 
Specifically women and ADHD and why so many are not finding out they have ADHD until they are 30, 40, or 50 plus years old.
With the help of Instagram creator Trina Hayes, a late diagnosed member of "Lady ADHD", I learn more about what ADHD can look like in women.   From time blindness to low self esteem, we take a look at why ADHD is more than hyper little boys.

More about Trina Hayes:
Trina started My Lady ADHD as a love letter to all the women like her who waited until later in life to get an ADHD diagnosis.  Her hope is to build a community of women who understand and feel empowered by their ADHD.  As a digital creator, she makes incredibly informative and entertaining content on social media.  She also offers coaching and mentorship services to newly diagnosed ADHD-ers who need another ADHD woman to lean on and who truly understands the intricacies of the symptoms and how life can be impacted and ultimately better managed.  She is always quick to put out the disclaimer that she is “NOT A DOCTOR”, so I will re-emphasize that here.  She is an ADHD woman looking to help and connect with other ADHD women.   You can follow Trina on :
Instagram: @myladyADHD
Website: https://www.myladyadhd.com/

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