Neurodiversity

Medical education: Accommodating students with ADHD Medical Teacher 2024, 46(7) 925–930

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a significant number of medical students worldwide. It is poorly recognised by educators, and therefore inadequately accommodated for in educational strategies. In order to investigate this further, a literature review and pilot survey were conducted. Given the prevalence and potential impact of ADHD on higher education, it is important to gain deeper insight into how medical educators can best engage and support students with ADHD. This knowledge may potentially reduce the negative impacts of this neurodiversity on students and support their learning and well-being throughout their medical career. Ultimately this may help doctors to achieve their full potential, especially in clinical decision-making.

Feeling like an untapped resource. Experiences of working life among nurses with ADHD and/or autism: An interview study International Journal of Nursing Studies 2024, 158 (104857)

ADHD and autism are common and increasing neurodevelopmental disorders in the world and also occur among nurses. However, almost nothing is known about nurses with these diagnoses. To promote high-quality care provision and well-being in the nursing workforce, it is important to discover more about these nurses. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to describe how nurses with ADHD and/or autism experience their working life. One overarching theme and seven subthemes emerged from the analysis. The theme "feeling like an untapped resource" reflected the subthemes: 1) Being passionate about one's job, 2) having strengths and talents to use in working life, 3) a stressful and disturbing work environment inhibits personal strengths, 4) managers show goodwill but lack knowledge and resources, 5) feeling appreciated but socially different among colleagues, 6) using a variety of strategies to facilitate working life and 7) toward an uncertain future. Nurses with ADHD and/or autism experience having abilities and talents that are useful in the nursing profession. However, they feel that the physical and organizational working conditions and lack of managerial support entail challenges that prevent them from making optimal use of their strengths.

Neurodiversity & nursing: Reflection of a final year general nursing student

Nurse Education Today 2024, 141 (106318)

Autism Spectrum Disorder is neurodevelopmental disorder, the manifestations of which and levels of support individuals may require vary greatly. Although there is a plethora of information regarding supporting autistic individuals in higher education and the workplace, there is a paucity of information regarding both autistic nurses and nursing students. This paper presents an overview of autism spectrum disorder, the particular features of which are relevant in nursing professions and in the context of higher education; and highlights issues surrounding disclosure and implementing reasonable accommodations. It concludes with a reflection of the author's experience as an autistic nursing student.

Autistic nurses: do they exist? British Journal of Nursing 2023, 32(4) 210–214

Autism spectrum disorder is an increasing diagnosis on a global scale. Despite limitations related to the diagnosis, many people with autism are active in the workforce, often within the health care sector. It is reasonable to assume that some of those are nurses. There are very few examples of nurses with autism in the literature, mostly in non-scientific contexts, and that these mention both autism-related strengths and limitations at work. A conclusion is that research about nurses with autism is almost non-existent, and it is high time to conduct explorative research in this area. If employers are given the knowledge and the ability to support the needs of nurses with autism, it is likely to benefit the health of the individual nurse, the psychosocial working climate and patient safety.

Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences and Perspectives of Autistic Speech-Language Pathologists American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 2023, 32(5) 2178–2191

Purpose: Supporting autistic speech-language pathologists (SLPs) is critical to expanding diversity within the field of speech-language pathology. The purpose of this study is to better understand how autistic SLPs reconcile tensions between their personal and professional experiences and negotiate the intersection of these identities. Conclusions:This study represents a first step toward understanding the unique strengths of autistic SLPs and the challenges they face. They can be better supported throughout their education, training, and careers. Our field must embrace and promote the neurodiversity paradigm to truly support all our colleagues and clients.

The experiences of autistic doctors: a cross-sectional study Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023, 14 (1160994)

Introduction: Medicine may select for autistic characteristics. As awareness and diagnosis of autism are growing, more medical students and doctors may be discovering they are autistic. No studies have explored the experiences of autistic doctors. This study aimed to fill that gap. 

The Experiences of Medical Students and Junior Doctors with Dyslexia: A Survey Study International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies 2020, 7(1) 62–71

Little research exists concerning dyslexia in medical education. A qualitative study highlighted issues such as bullying and a lack of support. This project aimed to quantify those findings. An online survey was sent to junior doctors in parts of the United Kingdom. Seventy-five participated. Most (53%) were diagnosed with dyslexia at university / medical school. Most reported that dyslexia impacted upon their selfimage (59%) and self-esteem (73%). Nearly half (46%) felt it influenced their career pathway choices within medicine. Participants reported bullying at medical school – from peers (24%), from academic teachers (14%), and from clinical teachers (27%); and also at work – from peers (25%), from academic teachers (13%), and from clinical teachers (23%). 88% reported that foundation schools provided no support, 92% that NHS Trusts provided none, and 90% that their deaneries provided none. The sorts of supports which seemed to be lacking were “psychological” or “pastoral” supports.

Dyspraxia in clinical education: a review Clinical Teacher 2018, 15(2), 98–103

The stereotype of the student with dyspraxia as ‘clumsy and disorganised’ may cause clinical teachers to be concerned about the student's performance in a clinical environment; however, if it is understood that dyspraxic students possess many strengths, as well as weaknesses, it may be that some stereotypical myths will be dispelled and more effective support offered to them. This review considers research surrounding the experiences of students and health professionals with dyspraxia within higher education (HE), alongside the personal experiences of EW, in order to inform the development of clinical teachers with respect to their support for learners with dyspraxia.

Doctors with dyslexia: strategies and support The Clinical Teacher 2017, 14(5) 355–359

Looking beyond dyslexia as an individual doctor's issue requires adjusting a working environment to better serve the needs of doctors with dyslexia. With an increasing number of doctors disclosing dyslexia at medical school, how can educators best provide this support? Our research looks at the impact of dyslexia on clinical practice and the coping strategies used by doctors to minimise the effect. As a result of the research there is now practice available for educators to identify evidence-based strategies and resources.