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Meddwl Mawr
Meddwl Mawr

Engaging with research can play an important role in helping you develop your own ideas and practice as an education professional. That’s why we’ve started Meddwl Mawr, a book and journal club designed to support you on your professional learning journey.

We’ll be publishing regular recommendations on this page covering a range of interesting topics, pointing you to some of the great content available on your free online library.

Make sure you sign up to our mailing list to hear about recommendations as soon as they’re published.

We’re keen to hear about any books or journal articles you’ve found interesting, enjoyable or useful on EBSCO. If you have a recommendation that you would like to share, then please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Your recommendations

October 2024

Kids in the Syndrome Mix of ADHD, LD, Autism Spectrum, Tourette's, Anxiety, and More! The One-stop Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Other Professionals by Dr Martin Kutscher

Kids in the Syndrome Mix of ADHD, LD, Autism Spectrum, Tourette's, Anxiety, and More! The One-stop Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Other Professionals by Dr Martin Kutscher

Written by the American paediatric neurologist Dr Martin Kutscher, this book provides a practical guide for educators (and other professionals) on the wide range of neurodiverse conditions in children and young people, with detailed chapters exploring the broad spectrum of neurodiversity.

There has been marked progress in terms of awareness of neurodiversity in recent years, and the support that neurodiverse learners and young people need. This is reflected through the introduction of the new Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system in Wales. However, despite an improved understanding of the strengths and the varied ways in which neurodivergent people process information and engage with the world, individuals with these conditions are still sometimes misunderstood and stereotyped and not encouraged to embrace their unique perspectives.

Kutscher and his co-authors address this through providing clear information on causes, symptoms, and treatments for the various neurodiverse conditions as well as sharing insightful and practical suggestions. Advice is also provided on effective behavioural strategies for educators, parents and professionals working with and responding to children and young people who display traits of these conditions.

The book promotes a broader understanding of the complexities of neurological conditions and places a strong emphasis on holistic approaches to managing behaviour and supporting mental health challenges, which recognise that each child and young person’s needs are unique and require individualised attention.

 

 

Systematic review and meta-analysis: relative age in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder by Eleni Frisira, Josephine Holland & Kapil Sayal

Research led by the University of Nottingham, published in 2024, has found that the youngest children within a school year are more likely to be diagnosed with conditions such as Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The researchers found that this was occurring as a result of teachers attributing signs of immaturity (associated with younger children being developmentally less mature than their older classmates with whom their behaviour is being compared) to these conditions. The research team noted that the findings highlight the importance of ensuring that teachers are properly trained and supported in understanding the broad spectrum of neurodivergency when assessing for and diagnosing conditions such as ADHD and ASD giving due consideration to the relative age of children within their settings. Read the full article from the journal of European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Previous editions

What did you think of this month’s recommendations? How did they help develop your practice? Tweet your response using #MeddwlMawr

Why not try using the tools in the PLP to reflect on the ideas from this month’s recommendations and how you can apply them to your own practice?

Have you been inspired by our recommendations, and want to share what you’ve learnt with your colleagues?  Read our guide to setting up a journal club.