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

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.

We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at adhdaha@understood.org or record a message for us here.

Explore Through My Eyes today. Step into the world of three kids with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia — helping you see differently so you can act differently.

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