School expects a lot from children, but for neurodiverse learners, it often expects too much, too fast, and too soon.
I know this all too well from personal experience of being a Neurodiverse child in the 1970’s and ‘80’s. I still feel the immediate panic of hearing the school bell at the end of a lesson in middle and secondary school. That sudden, shrill noise sent my body into fight-or-flight mode! The rush to pack up and remember all my belongings, navigate noisy hallways, switch classrooms, and then reset my focus felt like a sensory assault. Finding my next classroom and being suddenly expected to sit still again for another long period, work under timed conditions, filter out other children’s noise, and keep up with complex instructions left me constantly exhausted, but no one could understand why, multiple times a day.
These experiences aren’t rare. They’re daily realities for many neurodiverse learners.
Below are some of the most common challenges neurodiverse students face—and practical solutions parents can use to support them.
Sensory Overload – Loud bells, busy classrooms, bright lights, crowded hallways, constant noise.
The nervous system is already working overtime. Learning becomes secondary to survival.
- Validate your child’s sensory experience—don’t dismiss it.
- Advocate for accommodations like quiet spaces or movement breaks.
- Build decompression time into after-school routines.
Transitions and Constant Switching -Moving between classrooms, subjects, teachers, and expectations multiple times a day.
Transitions require emotional, cognitive, and sensory regulation all at once.
- Prepare your child for transitions ahead of time.
- Use visual schedules or checklists.
- Practice regulation strategies for moments of change.
Sitting Still and Listening for Long Periods – Long lessons with minimal movement or interaction.
Many neurodiverse brains learn best through movement, visuals, and interaction.
- Encourage the school to normalise movement as a learning tool.
- Support accommodations like flexible seating or breaks.
- Reinforce that difficulty sitting still is not a character flaw.
Timed Tasks and Pressure – Timed tests, fast-paced tasks, reading and writing at speed, pressure to perform quickly.
Stress shuts down access to knowledge, even when understanding is strong.
- Advocate for extra time or alternative assessments.
- Practice untimed learning at home to rebuild confidence.
- Focus praise on effort, not speed.
Distractions and Busy Classrooms – Difficulty focusing due to noise, movement, and visual clutter.
Filtering input takes energy that others don’t have to spend.
- Help identify whether your child is distracted visually, or through movement or noise.
- Explore tools like headphones, seating changes, or reduced visual clutter.
- Teach self-awareness, not self-blame.
Following and Keeping Up with Instructions – Missing steps, forgetting directions, falling behind.
Executive function demands are high and often invisible.
- Break instructions into smaller steps.
- Use visuals, written reminders, or checklists.
- Encourage the school to model problem-solving instead of punishment.
Neurodiverse learners are not failing school. Schools often fail to adapt to them.
When we stop asking, “Why can’t this child cope?” and start asking, “What is this environment demanding of them?” everything changes.
If this resonates, I support neurodiverse learners and families through tutoring and thoughtfully designed online resources—created by someone who has lived these challenges and understands what truly helps.
Fitting in should never require burning out or masking to fit in.
Book in for a FREE Discovery call to see how we can help.