Author: Chrysanne Dias | June 14th, 2022
On one fine clinical day, I was expected to conduct an assessment session under the supervision of Dr. Nandita de Souza, Developmental & Behavioural Paediatrician. For the first session, Samuel (name changed) a tall, active and bright nine year old boy made his way into the assessment room. He was energetic and prepared for the session with his own compass box.
My first impression of him was that, for his age, the sentence formation and vocabulary of Konkani language was exceptional. He was quick to understand what was expected of him even without verbal instructions. He was industrious in the way he would explore different possibilities with the things he had such as making a way to flip blocks or making a pyramid with wooden blocks.
Samuel seems to be having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a result of his hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention he has difficulties in his academics. Nevertheless, the bright side of his ADHD brain was that his perception, responses and creativity was so astonishing and precise. He said a window was a thing through which oxygen and sunlight enters and a river is made of stones, mud and water. He drew a superman with great details such as the design on his costume, mask and cape. He saw an incomplete man and instead of saying the man is incomplete, he said a man without legs, hands and eyes. He completed the man and named him the “SH Villain”. According to him, the villain would have robots with which they would destroy buildings but Superman would beat them all and save the world.
Chrysanne Dias, a psychologist at Sethu, brings to light the brighter side of being neurodiverse. At Sethu, diagnosing a neurodevelopmental condition is the first step towards supporting the child and family in their struggles and helping them explore the child’s potential in being neurodiverse.
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