9 steps to support a child with ADHD

EARLY YEARS EXPERT DR MINE CONKBAYIR TELLS LISA SALMON HER TOP TIPS FOR PARENTING CHILDREN WITH THIS NEUROTYPE

- 

AS wife of the comedy actor Paul Whitehouse, early years specialist Dr Mine Conkbayir is used to seeing the humour in even the most difficult of circumstances.

So when she was diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) two years ago, she decided to start a podcast with her husband about it called “I’m ADHD! No You're Not”, in which they interview well-known people with ADHD, ranging from Sir Stephen Fry to Katie Price, to show the reality of ADHD through humour and honest conversations.

Explaining why her 67-year-old husband co-hosts the podcast, Mine, 45, says: “Simply because we often get into cheeky banter and debates, where I'll say I'm ADHD, and he'll say no you're not. And that's literally where the title came from.”

Despite being married, the couple, who have a 13-year-old daughter, live in separate houses because of Mine's sensory needs (she prefers light and noise, her husband prefers quiet).

“Good for him, let him have his own space - I’m sure it’s the only thing that keeps him sane,” she says with a laugh.

But although they live separately, Paul’s help with his wife's ADHD is invaluable to her, and she says: “His viewpoint as a cynic comes in really handy because it’s a good catalyst for actually unpacking ADHD.

“We have great discussions as a result of him mucking about and undermining the very notion of ADHD.”

Mine, who has 25 years of experience working with children and young people, admits ADHD can be a “tough journey’, but stresses the need to have honest discussions on the subject, adding: “What’s also important is having a laugh about it.”