In this episode I speak to fellow ADHD coach Matthew Sampey who, 10 years ago, visited Amen Clinics and was diagnosed with ADD through brain imaging. Single-photon emission computerised tomography or SPECT scans can be used to support an ADHD diagnosis. It works through specialised cameras tracing a radioactive substance which shows blood flow through the brain. This can highlight decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex at the front of the brain which is typical in someone with ADHD. The prefrontal cortex plays an important role in executive functioning - the management system of the brain. Executive functioning determines how well we plan, organise, remember, monitor and control ourselves amongst other things. Many challenges of ADHD can be traced back to executive functioning. Matthew speaks about his experience with psychiatrist Dr. Amen and how his life has changed since his diagnosis. You can find Matthew on Instagram here: @grey_wolf_coaching And you can find me here: @uniquely_wired_adhdcoach

***AN ADHD DIAGNOSIS CANNOT BE MADE THROUGH A SPECT SCAN ALONE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION THROUGH ASSESSMENTS NEED TO BE MADE IN ORDER TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS***

Freya O'Horo started a blog about her brother Dian who has autism when she was 16 years old. Now, at 21, Freya , a student of social care in Athlone IT   has won multiple awards for her blog.  She talks about how she wants to break the stigma around autism and start the conversation to raise awareness until as many people as possible are educated on the different aspects of autism while breaking down stereotypes along the way. As well as educating others on autism, Freya designs chewable jewellery for children who tend to hold a lot of tension in their jaws. She also collaborates with an Irish designer who creates sensory friendly clothing and equipment at fair prices. On top of this Freya has also launched an Autism Siblings Ireland Goodie Bag! For more information on this and more you can follow Freya O' Horo and Autism Siblings Ireland on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

This episode is a Sibling Special with my own two siblings Susan and Alan. We speak about our sister Aoife who had cerebral palsy along with profound cognitive disabilities which meant her communication was extremely limited (mostly to smiling or crying) and she had no control over her limbs. 

In this extended episode we talk about the difficult feelings that can occur when you have a loved one with a disability.  How the feeling of having missed out on not knowing or the pain of wondering how she might have been, as a child or adult, had her birth trauma not occurred. 

We recall memories of her home visits along with visiting the residential homes where she lived for most of her life along with the emotional challenges that came with it.

What is emotional literacy and why is it so important for children with communication challenges? 

In this episode I speak to Education Psychologist Dr. Matthew Brown (Bristol, U.K) about the role of Education Psychologists within special educational needs.  We also speak about emotional literacy support assistants or ELSA's, who are specially trained school assistants that work with children who need emotional and/or communication assistance. 

Fintan O'Regan is one of the leading behaviour and learning specialists in the UK. He's a Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Behaviour Consultant for the Schools Network. Fin is currently the vice chairperson of UK ADHD Partnership (UKAP) and a member of the European ADHD Alliance.  

In this episode Fin is here to talk about the behaviour challenges parents of neurodiverse children can face. He speaks about his strategy: Structure, Flexibility, Rapport, Relationships and Role Models (SF3R) which can help parents develop a routine that works for the whole family. He mainly works with schools and parents with neurodiverse children who have conditions such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD). 

If you want to contact Fin, you can find him on www.fintanoregan.com where he has a section for parents that includes articles, information on his ebooks and upcoming webinars. 

ADHD Ireland's mission is to make life better for people affected by ADHD.

In this episode, ADHD Ireland's CEO Ken Kilbride describes how the charity is supporting  children with ADHD, their families and teachers across the country.  From advising parents on their next steps if they suspect their child may have ADHD, to support groups and also a programme called Parents Plus a practical, positive and  evidence based parenting course created by Dr. Carol Fitzpatrick and adapted for parents of children with ADHD. 

If you want to reach out to ADHD Ireland, their hotline number is : (01) 874 8349