• ADHD in the news: media reporting in 2022

    ADHD in the news: media reporting in 2022

    The Neurodevelopmental condition Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has historically received negative attention in the media in comparison to similar conditions such as Autism, Dyspraxia or Dyslexia. What is the current state of play? It is clear there are improvements in reporting in comparison to common media reporting from the time I first started carrying…

  • Evaluation of co-production 

    Blog 1 of 4 in the Insights From Researchers on Co-production blog series EPIC blogs usually focus on parent, teacher and clinician readers. This series of blogs are the findings from a workshop for researchers entitled Overcoming barriers to co-production with children and adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities which took place during the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Annual Seminar 2022 held in Edinburgh. Following…

  • How does stimulant medication actually work on thinking skills?

    How does stimulant medication actually work on thinking skills?

    We have previously posted about ‘myths around ADHD’ covering issues such as the lifespan nature of ADHD symptoms, common beliefs that ADHD is seen typically on its own and that those with ADHD are similar to each other. Another myth is that ADHD mainly affects behaviour. Our research, however, and that of many other groups…

  • Outputs from our co-production workshop

    The Neurodevelopmental Disorders Annual Seminar was held in Edinburgh this year. During the event, we held a workshop called Overcoming barriers to co-production with children and adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Many researchers feel unprepared to co-produce research with people with neurodevelopmental disabilities, while still believing in the value of co-production. This workshop aimed to address this…

  • Update on EPIC activities

    We have been a bit quiet on the EPIC blog of late as we have been very busy with a number of activities! We are working hard on developing new booklets! These will be added to the collection of understanding ADHD and DCD and strategy booklets we have already posted on our website. Our new…

  • Myths around ADHD

    Myths around ADHD

    Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often misunderstood. The myths that surround ADHD never seem to go away despite a huge amount of research into the causes, characteristics and treatments for ADHD. Most psychological disorders do have myths around them though – such as the image of all autistic children having amazing memories like the…

  • Thinking skills and literacy in children with ADHD

    Thinking skills and literacy in children with ADHD

    We have recently published systematic reviews about thinking skills and their relationship to difficulties in maths and literacy in children with ADHD. Today we will summarise the findings of the review that focused on literacy. So first of all, what is a ‘systematic review’? A systematic review is a summary of all of the literature…

  • Helping children with their thinking skills across settings

    Helping children with their thinking skills across settings

    We have been blogging about EPIC over the last few weeks introducing the ideas behind our approach.   Last time we blogged about two of the central foundations of EPIC –our approach being individualised and taking what is called a ‘transdiagnostic’ apporach. Today we are going to discuss the importance of embedding change across contexts.…

  • Taking an individualised approach when helping a child with developmental difficulties

    Taking an individualised approach when helping a child with developmental difficulties

    The EPIC intervention and use of associated materials aims to facilitate optimal thinking, learning, and wellbeing in children and young people. Today we are going to cover a further aspect of EPIC: taking what is called an ‘individualised transdiagnostic’ approach. The EPIC approach is individualised. It is important that psychoeducation and strategies are based on…

  • Personalisation

    Personalisation

    We have published free downloadable materials for parents and teachers to help with thinking and learning in children and young people especially for children with developmental difficulties. Yesterday we blogged about a key feature of EPIC – multiple areas of difficulty and we wrote about our play, game and activity based focus.   Today we are…