Surprise! You have ADHD (Kevin’s story)

Kevin Lam’s parents never told him he was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. And they might never have told him, if it weren’t for something Kevin, now 23, noticed at a recent family gathering. 

Kevin is just starting to learn about ADHD and his symptoms: Hyperactivity, fidgeting, and trouble focusing. And he has some “aha” moments throughout the interview: Why was he always the class clown? Does his ADHD really create challenges for him? He also talks about ADHD stigma in his Mexican family, and how it contributed to his diagnosis being hidden from him. 

To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. 

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Related resources

• Understanding hyperactivity
• 6 types of fidgets for ADHD
• Is ADHD a mental illness?

As kids head back to school, it's a good time to remember: not every student experiences the classroom the same way. Through My Eyes, a free interactive experience from Understood, lets you step into a day in the life of a kid with ADHD, dyslexia, or dyscalculia. See their strengths and challenges in a whole new way. Try it out here.

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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