Saying something like “Stop and think before you act" isn't going to have the effect you expect.

“Sit still and pay attention!” I’ll never forget my first grade teacher’s stern words, which played on repeat, no matter how hard I tried to comply. That combination was impossible for what I’d later recognise as my ADHD brain. I spent much of that year in timeout and feeling embarrassed.

The next year, Mrs. Sauer (no need to conceal this hero’s name) allowed me to be myself. Seemingly aware of my need to stay active, she let me open a paper grocery store in the back of the classroom and teach my peers how to crochet on pencils. I thrived that year, academically and emotionally.

Over 1 in 10 kids in the United States have been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Experts agree that treating kids with ADHD as though they’re neurotypical, which frequently happens, can have lasting negative repercussions. And shifting our language is an important step toward helping them thrive.

The Importance Of Using Positive Language

Contrary to popular belief, ADHD entails much more than attention challenges. “Those who struggle with ADHD struggle with organising and planning, time management, memory, task initiation, impulsive behaviours, and chronic boredom in routine,” explained Ryann Sutera, a licensed speech-language pathologist and advocate for neurodiversity-affirming communication.

Mikki Lee, a psychologist and assessment specialist, considers ADHD a unique way of processing information and learning. “ADHD brains are actually different … in terms of structure and connectivity,” she said. As a result, traditional school settings are often a mismatch. “Over time, the difficulties [kids with ADHD] experience can erode their self-esteem, because they’re constantly being told to correct their behaviour,” she noted.

Positive language can make all the difference, according to Kristen McClure, a therapist who specialises in ADHD. “How we speak to children becomes the........

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