I have had a condition all my life that is now referred to as Non Verbal Learning Disability. Many people with that condition are gifted linguistically. I am one of those. Because my grades were good at school, no one looked into the raft of problems that dogged me my whole life. spatial and numeric problems, and impaired procedural memory made it impossible (or almost) to do what were supposed to be "normal" activities. Drive, ride a bike, play ball, swim, dance, skip rope, play pretty much any game, etc. I could learn to do a thing but could not "hold" it in my body. I was shocked every time. At 75, I stumbled across this information. This condition cast a blight over my life but now I know it was probably also responsible for the gifts I have. I am hoping to look into it more closely. I believe it is also connected to my very complicated vision problems. Thanks for your article! Susan Zimmerman
Thank you so much for sharing, Kathryn. It's thanks to people like you sharing their experiences with adult diagnosis that I sought out assessment. What a HUGE wash of relief! Now I too can stop forcing myself to try to do things in ways that will never work for me and stop berating myself for not being able to.
Hi Kathryn! I read your article and there was so much I related to. I'm so glad you have found your brain liberation! Your story is so familiar to me. I still can't get my doctor to believe me that I have ADHD (because I am functional and I can organize things?) but I KNOW more than ANYTHING I have it. Similarly I have figured out some strategies that help me to be functional and productive. I'd love to chat with you sometime, for all kinds of reasons, but also with regards to teaching. So many art students are neuro-divergent yet we don't (in general) acknowledge this in the way the school delivers programs and supports. Thanks for publishing this, a fantastic read xoxo
Thank you so much for sharing this Kathryn. I'm diagnosed autistic but suspect strongly I have ADHD, too though it's only become more obvious as I get older and older. I'm not entirely sure that a formal diagnosis would help me much, but I know that lots of the tools designed for people with ADHD help. Get in touch if you'd like any pointers or advice - I work in helping ND people / orgs be better at ND inclusion so have lots of pointers. Much love.
My ADHD Diagnosis | Issue 17
I have had a condition all my life that is now referred to as Non Verbal Learning Disability. Many people with that condition are gifted linguistically. I am one of those. Because my grades were good at school, no one looked into the raft of problems that dogged me my whole life. spatial and numeric problems, and impaired procedural memory made it impossible (or almost) to do what were supposed to be "normal" activities. Drive, ride a bike, play ball, swim, dance, skip rope, play pretty much any game, etc. I could learn to do a thing but could not "hold" it in my body. I was shocked every time. At 75, I stumbled across this information. This condition cast a blight over my life but now I know it was probably also responsible for the gifts I have. I am hoping to look into it more closely. I believe it is also connected to my very complicated vision problems. Thanks for your article! Susan Zimmerman
Thank you so much for sharing, Kathryn. It's thanks to people like you sharing their experiences with adult diagnosis that I sought out assessment. What a HUGE wash of relief! Now I too can stop forcing myself to try to do things in ways that will never work for me and stop berating myself for not being able to.
Yes a lost generation. But rising stars!
Hi Kathryn. Life is such a journey!!
An interesting and rich book about ADHD - Scattered Minds by Gabor Mate might be a timely read. All the best to you and Dave
Hi Kathryn! I read your article and there was so much I related to. I'm so glad you have found your brain liberation! Your story is so familiar to me. I still can't get my doctor to believe me that I have ADHD (because I am functional and I can organize things?) but I KNOW more than ANYTHING I have it. Similarly I have figured out some strategies that help me to be functional and productive. I'd love to chat with you sometime, for all kinds of reasons, but also with regards to teaching. So many art students are neuro-divergent yet we don't (in general) acknowledge this in the way the school delivers programs and supports. Thanks for publishing this, a fantastic read xoxo
Thank you so much for sharing this Kathryn. I'm diagnosed autistic but suspect strongly I have ADHD, too though it's only become more obvious as I get older and older. I'm not entirely sure that a formal diagnosis would help me much, but I know that lots of the tools designed for people with ADHD help. Get in touch if you'd like any pointers or advice - I work in helping ND people / orgs be better at ND inclusion so have lots of pointers. Much love.