Physical health challenges in neurodivergent children and young people
Written By: Author(s): Jane Green
4 min read
Jane Green MBE FCCT, Founder and Chair of SEDSConnective
Introduction
As a former assistant headteacher who focused on supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), I have long been concerned about attendance and attainment among neurodivergent children. The co-occurrence of physical health challenges linked to hypermobility for this population is not well understood – physical symptoms can be mistaken for growing pains, burnout or anxiety, with many children and young people wrongly assumed to be engaging in emotionally based school avoidance. Furthermore, physical pain and discomfort can cause fatigue, concentration problems and emotional dysregulation (Eccles, 2024), leading to higher rates of school absence and reduced academic attainment. Overlooking physical discomfort experienced by neurodivergent children can also undermine children’s and young people’s agency in communicating their pain, making it difficult for them to acknowledge
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References
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