379: Helping Kids Understand Their Diagnosis, with Drs. Katia Fredriksen and Yael Rothman

Kids notice far more than we give them credit for. They already know reading takes longer, focus slips away, or conversations feel harder for them than for their friends. Without an explanation, so many neurodivergent kids land on the most painful story available: I'm the problem.

In this episode, I'm joined by pediatric neuropsychologists Dr. Katia Fredriksen and Dr. Yael Rothman, authors of the “Different Thinkers” book series, to talk about one of the questions I hear often from parents: how do I talk with my child about their diagnosis?

We get into why so many of us fear a label, and why giving our kids words for how their brain works often brings relief, community, and the beginnings of self-advocacy. Yael shares how she starts the conversation long before an evaluation is finished, by getting curious and using a child's own words to describe what's hard. Katia explains why it helps to sort through our own feelings first, how to choose a calm, connected moment, and how a teacher conference or a recent appointment can open the door naturally.

We also get practical about the moment many parents dread, when a child asks, "Does this mean I'm broken?" You'll hear how to name what's genuinely hard without sugarcoating it, while weaving in real strengths, support, and hope. I share the simple activity that changed everything for my own son, and pulled me out of fix-it mode for good.

When kids understand their brains, shame loosens its grip, and emotional regulation gets a little more possible. This isn't one big talk. It's an ongoing conversation that grows as your child grows.

Listen to the full episode now.

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Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/379

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You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com. It's not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.