ADHD Awareness Month: Diagnosis empowers educator to connect with students

Melisa Smith doesn’t see her diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a hurdle when it comes to teaching. Instead, she sees it as a way to connect on a deeper level with her students and to offer parents reassurance. 

Smith is a special education teacher at Meadows Elementary School, Topeka Unified School District 501, and a Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) member with NEA-Topeka (Capital UniServ). She was diagnosed with ADHD five years ago while being treated for some other health conditions. 

“I was told that I had ADHD,” Smith said. “I said, ‘No, I do not.’” 

She realized something was wrong when she started to daze off in class and became forgetful. 

“I was nervous about medication,” Smith said. “But I decided to try. It was like a fog was lifted. I could think clearly.” 

She noticed her grades in college improved, too. 

“I have a 4.0 in my master’s class,” Smith said. “This diagnosis has helped in my job a ton, too.” 

Smith started as a paraprofessional at Meadows in 2007. She enrolled in Washburn University’s Paraprofessionals to Teachers Program and started her teaching career in December 2021. 

While working toward her goal of becoming an educator, another educator approached Smith and told her she wouldn’t be a good teacher. 

“She was wrong,” Smith said. 

Smith works with several students who are autistic and can be overstimulated by lights and loud noises. She understands because she also is impacted by the same things. 

Having ADHD also has helped her connect with her 14-year-old son, who was diagnosed with ADHD in kindergarten. 

“Being diagnosed has empowered me,” Smith said. “It has helped me make sense of so many things. Now, I talk to parents all the time about ADHD traits. I help parents realize that their children aren’t broken. All of my knowledge can now help parents.”

Information about ADHD:

What It Is

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It is one of the most common disorders of this kind diagnosed in children. ADHD often carries over into adulthood.

ADHD is a highly genetic, brain-based syndrome that has to do with the regulation of a particular set of brain functions and related behaviors.

ADHD can persist into adulthood. In some cases, adults with ADHD have never been diagnosed. Around 2.8% of adults worldwide have ADHD, according to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA). Other research estimates that around 6.7% of adults globally (or more than 360 million) are affected by ADHD when cases without a childhood diagnosis are included in the percentage.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs of ADHD in adults may be similar to childhood ADHD, but some of these symptoms, especially hyperactivity, may decrease over time, making diagnosis in adults more difficult. 

Signs can include:

• Hyperactivity and impulsiveness – Fidgeting, uncontrolled tics, constantly feeling restless, talking too much, finding it difficult to wait, frequent mood swings or easy to anger, and more.
• Inattention – Unable to pay attention to details, difficulty staying focused, difficulty organizing tasks and belongings, struggles with prioritization and time management, easily distracted by unrelated thoughts, and more.

Adult ADHD Challenges

Adults with ADHD can experience challenges when it comes to going to school, college, university and work. Challenges can also impact relationships.

• School: Students with ADHD in college can ask for accommodations, such as extended time during tests or a quiet, separate place for exams.
• Work: A career counselor or ADHD coach can help identify unique strengths and skills and develop strategies to help reach career goals.
• Relationships: Learning to communicate, respond to conflicts, and overcome challenges in positive and productive ways can help build lasting, healthy relationships. Counseling or couples' therapy can also help identify practical strategies for maintaining a happy relationship.

Diagnosing ADHD

Try to find a psychiatrist, psychologist or psychotherapist specializing in ADHD when getting symptoms assessed. An ADHD diagnosis may involve evaluating symptoms, evaluating symptom history, behavior rating scale, and more.

• Information from Attention Deficit Disorder Association  
  and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention