All Aboard ADHD

• Exercise Benefits for ADHD

  How can exercise positively impact ADHD symptoms in children? In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD Podcast, Claire meets with Dr Shu-Shih (Stone) Hsieh to discuss ADHD and exercise. Dr Stone is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Kingston University. Stone's ActiGamer research at BREAD Lab focuses on the effects of exercise on cognition and ADHD symptoms in school aged-children. Dr Stone Hseih kicks off with some insights into the many wide-ranging benefits of exercise for children with ADHD, including improvements in connection, attention and multitasking, alongside a reduction anxiety, stress and depressive symptoms. He and Claire also discuss the brain mechanisms involved in the positive effects of exercise and the differences between traditional forms of exercise vs multi-component exercise. Due to constant changes in the environment, multi-component exercise - such as such as football, tennis or basketball - can be more beneficial for children with ADHD, due to the compound effects on fitness, attention, and multitasking.  To ensure they consistently engage and experience the longer-term benefits, Dr Stone highlights the importance of diversifying exercise choices for children with ADHD and ensuring they find activities they enjoy. He also shares some fascinating results from studies into ADHD and exercise, for example using an EEG to study brain activity during and after exercise in children with ADHD. His aim is to understand whether exercise could be offered as a complementary treatment strategy for children with ADHD. Finally Dr Stone introduces the exciting new potential of "exergaming", which combines video games with physical activity, showing promising results in improving attention and fitness. To find out more about Dr Stone and his work, head to:  Kingston University - Dr Stone Hsieh BREAD Lab Kingston Healthy body—Healthy mind? Does exercise benefit people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder? By Dr Stone Hsieh The effects of acute aerobic exercise on inhibitory control and resting state heart rate variability in children with ADHD. By Dr Stone Hseih. Dr Stone also has an ongoing study on the effects of physical activity and EEG on Executive Function children with ADHD. If you’re interested in participating, you can sign up here 

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• ADHD Medication 101

  Will ADHD medication help my child, or dull their spark? In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Professor Samuele Cortese for a comprehensive exploration of ADHD medications and how they work, so that parents listening can make informed decisions for themselves and their children. Professor Samuele Cortese, MD, PhD is currently Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Southampton and Honorary Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for Solent NHS Trust. Professor Cortese’s main research interests are in neurodevelopmental disorders, with a focus on ADHD. Professor Samuele Cortese begins by explaining the different types and mechanisms of ADHD medications, which are broadly divided into stimulants (e.g. methylphenidate) and non-stimulants (e.g. atomoxetine). Whilst both types of medication affect neurotransmitters like dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain, they operate differently. Many parents worry about dulling their child’s spark if they go down the medication route, so Professor Samuele also shares some insight into which medications are more effective and why. In his research, he shares that 70-80% of children respond well to stimulants, while non-stimulants may help the remaining 20-30%. He also describes how medication can actually be personalised to the child, not only by type but also by release formation e.g. slow release throughout the day. Interestingly, only 20-22% of children continue treatment after a year, so Professor Samuele also explains what challenges children and parents can face when it comes to adhering to a medication routine. He also explains some potential common side effects and how they can best be managed. Claire and Professor Samuele also touch on the long-term effects of medication - with long-term studies showing benefits such as a reduction in mortality rate and improved quality of life. Overall Claire and Professor Samuele stress what a deeply personal choice medication is, and through this episode aim to support parents and their children to make the right decision for them. This epsiode is a must-listen for parents weighing up the pros and cons of medication for their child with ADHD.

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  54:52
• Mark Allen - My Parenting Story

  What happens when you throw out the parenting rule book? In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by parent guest Mark Allen - a former stand-up comedian who juggles working in IT, with being a writer, podcaster, and dad to three neurodivergent children, who have a combination of diagnoses including ADHD, Autism and PDA.  Mark describes himself as an “undiagnosed neurotypical”, who navigates the competing needs of his family with humour and insight, which he channels into his podcast Neuroshambles, where he chats with guests about the lighter side of parenting neurodivergent children, including an episode with Claire. Mark kicks off by describing how differently ADHD presents in his children, with Jay's early signs of ADHD manifesting as a need to move constantly, whereas Otto’s distractibility and inattentiveness provide challenges in terms of planning daily activities. Mark also shares some insight into how difficult it is to distinguish between ADHD and autism in his children, and the different pathways their family took to get diagnoses for their children. Mark speaks of the relief and understanding that came with the diagnoses, allowing them to better understand and support their children. He also shares some wonderful examples of how accommodations such as movement breaks and sensory-seeking activities support his children to learn and regulate themselves. Claire and Mark also discuss the positive impact of allowing children to be themselves and how it can boost their self-esteem. In fact, Mark advises other parents to ditch the parenting rulebook altogether, along with their expectations of neurotypical children. He shares his own experience of how changing their approach to meal times has reduced stress and increased happiness for their family. He also shares a lovely take on his children's unique character and energy, particularly their strong opinions and eccentricity - fedoras and all! This is a must-listen for any parent navigating the day-to-day challenges of raising neurodivergent children, particularly the dads! The Journey into S.E.N.D Fatherhood: Fathers Beyond Limits book: https://amzn.eu/d/iT1fOTM?sfnsn=scwspwa Neuroshambles Podcast (Claire’s episode): https://open.spotify.com/episode/3JTYK9U0KUGSb2u18lKk6f?si=N2x-hFQaQEGI06k7SLAJfA

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  30:52
• Burnout in Children and Teenagers

  What does burnout look like in ADHD children and teenagers? In this episode of All Aboard ADHD, Claire is joined by Dr Samantha Hiew to discuss the signs, causes, and prevention of ADHD burnout in children and teenagers. Sam - a highly sought-after neurodiversity keynote speaker and trainer - founded ADHD girls at the age of 40, after a decade of existential anxiety living with undiagnosed ADHD. Sam seeks to humanise neurodiversity, bridging the empathy gap between those who are neurodivergent and neurotypical to foster a sense of connection, understanding, and belonging Claire and Sam begin by discussing what causes burnout: typically various sources of long-term stress, sensory overload, and social and academic pressures. Sam also shares some insight into Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) and how this can play a part in triggering burnout. They then go on to discuss the symptoms parents can look out for in their children, for example, emotional challenges, sleep issues, and defiant behavior.  Understanding and recognising burnout in our ADHD children and teenagers is key to prevention, so Sam shares some great examples of how we as parents can work to better support our kids to avoid burnout. For instance, creating supportive routines, ensuring the right kind of nutrition, and supporting our children's self-esteem. For children and teenagers already experiencing burnout, Sam emphasises how crucial rest and self-care are as tools. Sam also highlights the importance of self-compassion and the need for a holistic approach, including school adjustments and support from a trusted adult. She also sheds light on the significance of recognising and addressing burnout early, to ensure we support our children to avoid long-term mental and physical health issues. Finally, Sam encourages parents to seek support via community and the right resources, so that they feel less alone in their journey - of course, that is the whole ethos of this podcast! This episode is a must-listen for parents of children and teenagers with ADHD who want to get ahead of burnout and learn practical strategies to support their kids. Links to articles mentioned in the episode: ADDitude article - https://www.additudemag.com/grow-up-already-why-it-takes-so-long-to-mature/  ADHD Embrace - https://adhdembrace.org/teaching-pupils-with-adhd//1000  To find out more about Samantha and her work, head to: https://samanthahiew.com/ 

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  38:48
• Teaching ADHD kids

  What are the best practical strategies to support our children with ADHD and help them flourish in the classroom? In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Jamie Gilbert, Assistant Head Teacher of a school for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.  Jamie (aka Mr G) has been teaching SEMH children for over 10 years and works with amazing children with a range of neurodivergent conditions, such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia. During lockdown, Jamie created social media channels @mrgteacher on Tiktok and Instagram, which showcase and raise awareness of teaching neurodivergent children, and has now amassed a huge following of almost 1.3 million and counting.  In this episode Claire and Jamie discuss the different ways we can build trust and foster positive relationships with ADHD children - and the amazing benefits of doing so for children and adults alike.  Jamie speaks about his surprising route into teaching and his rapid career progression, due to his unique ability to relate to children with severe social, emotional, and mental health challenges. He goes on to share what inspired him to begin sharing his teaching techniques on TikTok and how his first viral video led to a huge social media following.  Along with some fantastic practical examples, Jamie shares his approach to creating a safe, secure learning environment that successfully ‘unlocks’ hyperfocus for his students with ADHD. For example, using strategies like breathing exercises to support emotional regulation, shuffle dancing to channel hyperactivity, moving breaks for self-regulation, and tailoring lessons to his students' interests. He also highlights the importance of teaching children about their ADHD so they can understand themselves and their needs. Jamie also shares the highly effective PACE approach (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) which adults can use to better understand the underlying reasons for ADHD kids’ behaviour, plus the importance of having a safe space in the classroom for students to self-regulate. As he is currently on his own ADHD diagnosis journey, Jamie also shares some insights into the challenges of waiting for an NHS assessment and the benefits of the ‘Right to choose’ pathway to speed up a diagnosis. This episode is a must-listen for parents looking for practical - and fun - strategies to better understand and support their children with ADHD. To find out more about Jamie and his work, head to:  https://www.instagram.com/mrgteacher/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@mrgteacher

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