How an ADHD diagnosis was lost and found again (Nikki Daye’s story)

Nikki Daye, a school psychologist and ADHD advocate, grew up in
the foster care system. She was diagnosed with ADHD as a child,
but her medical records were eventually lost. As she got older,
her ADHD diagnosis wasn’t considered. Instead, her symptoms were
misdiagnosed as anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. 


While her ADHD diagnosis was “lost in translation,” Nikki spent a
lot of time feeling misunderstood and unsupported. It wasn’t
until adulthood that she finally got the clarity she needed. Now,
she’s using her experience to advocate for kids with ADHD,
including her own daughter.


Related resources


6 ways ADHD and PTSD can look alike

ADHD and trauma



Timestamps


(01:18) Nikki’s first ADHD diagnosis as a teenager


(03:30) Nikki’s experience with echolalia 


(05:27) ADHD treatment, speculating other diagnoses, and medical
records being lost while in foster care


(09:11) “Aging out” of her ADHD diagnosis, and coming back to it


(15:08) Nikki’s intersectional “aha” moments 


(20:33) Nikki’s work helping kids like her, and her daughter


For a transcript and more resources, visit the ADHD Aha!
show page on Understood.org. 


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Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like
ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work,
donate at understood.org/give


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