On episode 234, Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Austina De Bonte about auditory processing differences. They discuss how these differences can often be mistaken for attention issues or social difficulties, and what it all means for everyday life. Dr. De Bonte shares some methodologies used for testing, accommodations that are available, and ground-breaking auditory therapies that have been found to help those dealing with auditory processing challenges.

Takeaways

• Auditory processing differences can have a significant impact on how individuals experience the world and react to various situations.

• Processing differences can often mimic other traits, such as attention issues or difficulties with social relationships.

• Individuals with auditory processing differences may try to hide or compensate for their difficulties, which can be exhausting and impact their well-being.

• The Abled Kids Foundation specializes in auditory processing disorder and offers unique approaches to assessment and support.

• An ear filter device can improve word recognition by altering the timing between the ears.

• Low gain hearing aids and auditory therapies may provide some benefit, but their effectiveness is uncertain.

• Misophonia, a sensitivity to certain sounds, does not have many effective strategies for treatment.

• Accommodations such as preferential seating and FM systems in classrooms can help individuals with auditory processing differences.

If you are a clinician and you are looking for accredited continuing education specific to neurodivergent clients, you should check out the Therapist Hub. You can join as a founding member and get 15% off the lifetime of your membership with the coupon code HubFM15.

If you weren’t able to attend the free course, Foundations of Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy, you can still take the course as a self-study here.

This episode is brought to you by the Gifted Learning Lab, which offers resources and coaching for parents who want to feel more confident raising their intense or sensitive gifted and twice-exceptional kids and teens.

Dr. Austina De Bonte is a consultant at Smart is Not Easy, specializing in helping families get to the root cause(s) of their kids’ twice exceptional challenges. She also works with school district teams to improve equitable identification and service models. She is President of the WA Coalition for Gifted Education, Past President of NW Gifted Child Association, and an advisor to The G Word documentary. Dr. De Bonte’s impressive credentials and experience also include being a certified SENG Model Parent Group facilitator, making the list of People to Watch by Variations 2e (2020), and being a recipient of the NAGC Carolyn Callahan Doctoral Student Award (2023), the WAETAG Advocacy Award (2019), and three PTA Outstanding Advocate awards. Augustina has a Masters degree from MIT (1998), and an Ed.D. from Bridges Graduate School (2024), where her dissertation was titled “Beyond Universal Screening: Practices and Attitudes that Support Equity in an Accelerated Elementary Program.”

BACKGROUND READING

Austina De Bonte’s website

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On episode 233, Emily Kircher-Morris is joined by Patrick Casale, a mental health clinician specializing in addictions. The conversation covers a lot of ground, including neurodiversity-affirming practices, and the intersectionality of addiction and neurodivergence. They discuss the importance of creating a neurodivergent affirming environment throughout the therapeutic process, from intake to therapy sessions. They talk about the need for a more nuanced understanding of addiction in the neurodivergent community and the importance of community and connection in recovery. They address concerns about stimulant medication and its relationship to substance abuse, as well as the impact of video games and electronics on addiction.

TAKEAWAYS

• Creating a neurodivergent affirming environment is crucial in the therapeutic process, from intake to therapy sessions.

• A more nuanced understanding of addiction is needed in the neurodivergent community, considering the impact of neurodivergent traits on coping mechanisms.

• Community and connection are essential in recovery from addiction.

• Concerns about stimulant medication and its relationship to substance abuse should be addressed with a focus on individual experiences and needs.

• The impact of video games and electronics on addiction should be evaluated based on how they affect daily functioning and well-being.

• Neurodivergent burnout requires sensory soothing and accommodations in the workplace or school settings.

• Support and normalization are important for individuals struggling with addiction.

Get signed up for the live, free continuing education training, Foundations of Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy, happening on Friday, July 12th. If you can’t be there live, you can still access the video and get the credit.

Learn more about 2e students by taking our course, Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students. It’s great for CE credits for educators, and the course will be enlightening to anyone curious about helping 2e students thrive in the classroom.

Patrick Casale is an AuDHD Licensed Clinical Mental Health and Addictions Therapist in Asheville, NC.. He is the owner of All Things Private Practice and Resilient Mind Counseling. Patrick works as a business coach and strategist, and is also a group practice owner, motivational speaker, international retreat planner, the host of All Things Private Practice Podcast, and co-host of Divergent Conversations Podcast.

His work has helped and inspired thousands of mental health professionals to take risks, start and grow their businesses, and invest in themselves. Patrick has been featured on Private Practice Startup, Abundance Practice Building, Therapy Reimagined, Not Your Typical Psychotherapist, Selling The Couch, and Modern Therapists. He is a passionate advocate for reducing shame and stigma of mental health, as well as impostor syndrome. Patrick helps mental health entrepreneurs break the mold, work through their fears and insecurities, and to embrace their authenticity. He loves good coffee, craft beer, playing soccer, and traveling the world. His official motto has become “doubt yourself do it anyway”.

BACKGROUND READING

Patrick’s website

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Many brilliant young people experience the dichotomy of disability layered on top of their intelligence. It’s called twice-exceptionality, or 2e for short. What are the common misconceptions about twice-exceptional individuals? How do traditional models fall short when identifying the learning disabilities of our brightest kids? And why is early recognition so pivotal? Emily talks with Dr. Danika Maddocks, a psychologist, parent coach, and founder of the Gifted Learning Lab, about the intricacies of twice-exceptionality, in childhood and beyond. This is an encore presentation of the conversation, originally published in October 2023.

Get signed up for the live, free continuing education training, Foundations of Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy, on Friday, July 12th.

Learn more about 2e students by taking our course, Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students. It’s great for CE credits for educators, and the course will be enlightening to anyone curious about helping 2e students thrive in the classroom.

Here’s a link to the free course about power struggles from Danika Maddocks.

Dr. Danika Maddocks is a psychologist, parent coach, and owner of The Gifted Learning Lab. She has supported gifted and twice-exceptional kids and their families for over 15 years as a teacher, therapist, school consultant, assessment provider, and coach. She has also published award-winning research on giftedness and twice-exceptionality. Much of her work is informed by her personal experiences growing up gifted and her experience raising a young gifted kid.

BACKGROUND READING

Free email mini course, Reduce Power Struggles with Your Gifted/2e Kid

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