Is it a Disorder?

Many may not know, but myself and family members suffer from ADHD and the autistic spectrum. It is interesting the insight we as a culture have today involving ADHD and Autism as opposed to 20-30 years ago. When I was in school, we were just the kids who couldn’t sit still or didn’t pay attention.

In a recent review, between 2009 and 2017 the prevalence of ADHD rose from 8.5% to 9.5%, while autism prevalence more than doubled. At the same time, the number of kids with an intellectual disability rose from .09% to 1.2%. This review was in 2019, and we see these issues continue to increase and will not be going away.

In 2021 it is now around 1.8% of children within the United States having an Autism diagnosis. This impact is not confined, rather found in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. It is now believed 1 in 160 worldwide may have a form of autism.

With the continuing information bombardment on the individual, required ability to redirect, those already at disadvantage are left behind and find it nearly impossible to keep up.

I heard this comment from Kathleen Lockyer, “If you take a child out of the environment that they’re being unsuccessful in and you put them in another environment and they’re able to be successful. Is it actually a disorder” on a podcast discussing Adult ADHD ADD tips.

When I heard it, I thought, brilliant. If you take out the autism and other intellectual disorders, this same comment can be applied to both children and adults in the working environment. I personally have seen many individuals struggle with a subject, job task in one area, but overachieve in other areas.

The reality is each individual has strengths and weaknesses. The parent or mentor must help the child or student to identify and work with those successfully. The manager must help the employee identify and work with those successfully. It is not easy. It will require labor, time, and patience. However, if you help one succeed, that individual can help another by paying it forward.

#infobymattcole #austism #ADHD #ADD

You can hear more of these insights on my podcast: https://anchor.fm/infobymattcole