Ep. 37: Normalising ADHD Through Talking About the Signs with Ella Tabb from @PurpleElla

This episode starts a new mini-series on ADHD. Helen Wills talks to Ella Tabb from Purple Ella about her family's diagnoses of autism and ADHD, including her own diagnosis at the age of 36.

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a neurological condition that affects mood and behaviour. It's often diagnosed in childhood, but can persist into adulthood, with adult diagnoses becoming more common.

Symptoms of ADHD

Symptoms can vary, and are often different in women and men. Boys are sometimes diagnosed during school years due to restlessness and impulsive behaviour (hyperactive ADHD), while girls often mask their symptoms, trying to live up to school expectations. As a result they are more likely to find it hard to focus, pay attention , and remember details.

Ella talks about how it was only when getting a diagnosis of ADHD for her daughter that she recognised the symptoms in herself.

Here's what we discussed:

• She was labelled difficult, naughty and weird during her school years.
• She was bullied at secondary school and suffered low self-esteem.
• Her strong moral code meant she would say things out loud that other teenagers might ridicule.
• Ella describes herself as having no filter between her brain and her mouth. She talked AT people rather than with them.
• This would make her panic after a conversation that she may have offended people.
• Aspects of the ADOS test used to diagnose autism and ADHD - Ella was asked do you struggle with queues, can you watch a sunset, do you have intense interests?

What should parents do if they think their child might have ADHD?

Ella details a great set of resources to arm yourself with the knowledge you need to decide whether to pursue a diagnosis. She says it's important to write down the categories that fit ADHD with as much evidence as you can before visiting your GP.

Parents do need to intervene. Ella says as a teenager with ADHD she couldn't see what her own problems were. She just felt really bad about herself and didn't understand that there was more to it.

Scroll down for organisations that can help.

Who is Purple Ella?

Purple Ella is a disabled content creator with a focus on autism and ADHD. She draws on her experience of her own life as an autistic adult with ADHD and as the mother to three children who are all neurodivergent.

She says "all behaviour is communication" and wants all neurodivergent people to know that they are perfect just the way they are. Ella also lives with her husband, her assistance dog Coco and her cat Katsu.

Where to find support and advice on getting an ADHD diagnosis

• Ella's YouTube channel Purple Ella
• Purple Ella and Coco on TikTok
• Ella on Instagram
• How to ADHD on YouTube
• National Autistic Society
• ADDitude Magazine
• Counselling for ADHD
• The Pomodoro Technique

Listen to the podcast for more information and advice from Ella on everything from getting a diagnosis to techniques to help with concentration at school when you have ADHD.

More teenage parenting tips from Helen Wills:

Helen wills is a teen mental health podcaster and blogger at