As Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness month comes to a close, let’s take one last opportunity to consider the importance of increased awareness to improve outcomes for people with ADHD and others in the neurodiverse community. While awareness may seem like a small step, it can actually make a huge impact. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the many benefits of increasing awareness about ADHD.
Increased Awareness Improves Access to Assessment
By increasing awareness of what ADHD is during ADHD Awareness Month and year round, we help individuals with ADHD to gain access to diagnostic services. The more people know about and can identify the varied symptoms of ADHD, the more likely educators, employers, physicians, and other stakeholders are to help individuals with ADHD to receive the necessary assessment and increase self-awareness.
Increased Awareness Improves Access to Support Services
In addition to making it more likely that individuals will receive necessary assessment, awareness also means that these people are more likely to receive support without fear of stigma or embarrassment. ADHD is frequently misunderstood as a condition. People often think that children with ADHD are just “being kids,” and if parents of children diagnosed with ADHD seek treatment for their children, they may hear misinformed parents saying harmful things about how their child’s behavior is a parenting issue. Adults with ADHD are often shamed by their peers for not being able to manage the effects of their condition without support. There is absolutely no shame in seeking support to help manage the negative impact of ADHD on your life – at any age. By increasing awareness about ADHD and helping people understand the complexities of this condition, they are more likely to encourage loved ones, coworkers, and students to feel empowered to receive the necessary support.
Increased Awareness Encourages Person-Centered Research & Support
Scientific research and treatment planning can be inherently ableist. The goal of research and treatment for ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity has, for decades, been focused on how to make neurodiverse individuals more “average.” As we grow to understand the ways that our minds work differently, science and treatment can be geared toward benefitting the true needs of individuals who are diagnosed with ADHD. Rather than focusing on how support services can make people ADHD more like their peers, research and treatment planning can be centered around increasing knowledge of the positive and negative impact of ADHD and helping people who have ADHD to maximize their strengths.
Are You Interested in Assessment?
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with ADHD, Northern Colorado Assessment Center is here to offer comprehensive testing to help individuals more fully understand their strengths and potential areas of struggle. Assessment is about knowledge not about labels. The results of our comprehensive battery of tests give people detailed information about how they learn, perceive, interact, and engage with the world around them. Whether our clients are adults or children, ADHD testing offers numerous benefits. When you’re ready to get started, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.
