Inequalities suffered by ADHD patients due to symptoms
Author: Mu-En Chen
1 Commentries
Abstract:
Hidden disabilities in the travel industry have not been particular concern. However, the global total of neurodivergent adults is staggering, covering a wide variety of neurological diseases and disabilities, of which ADHD is one of the largest. This study attempts to understand the living state of ADHD patients and their unique needs in tourism to discover and discuss the unfairness of tourism to ADHD patients
Key Words:
ADHD, Hidden Disabilities, Inequity in Tourism, Physical Health, Mental Health, ADHD-related knowledge, Lack of Understanding, Creating ADHD Friendly Environment.
Discussion:
ADHD is a health disorder caused by congenital neurological abnormalities that lead to inattention deficits and hyperactive/impulsive behavioural disturbances due to the dissemination of excess activity energy (Kelly and Ramundo, 2006). ADHD mostly be diagnosed in childhood, and some patients are diagnosed with the disorder in adulthood. However, some people may not know they have ADHD for the rest of their lives because, in the eyes of non-professionals, many of the more explicit symptoms of ADHD are "normal behaviour" or "poor emotional management." ADHD patients' behavioural patterns will gradually change depending on personal background and level of socialisation, but what remains constant is being perceived as different. Therefore, from the perspective of others, the behaviour and thinking of these patients may be naughty, irrational, incomprehensible, or even crazy (Kelly and Ramundo, 2006). In the eyes of many, there are behaviours that can lead to patients being seen as unwelcome guests or unpleasant tourists that patients have no control over, even if they want to fit into mainstream behaviour patterns. When ADHD patients become travellers, practitioners who cannot understand these behaviours and an unfriendly environment can significantly affect their travel experience and even have to interrupt or change their itinerary.
The more primitive face of ADHD symptoms can be seen in the case of less socialisation. Taking child patients as an example, ADHD can make the child unable to truly calm down and directly cause its caregivers (parents, family members, nanny, teachers, etc.) to encounter more significant difficulties and pressures. Parents of patients report that their children are incredibly destructive, like volcanic eruptions, with difficulty controlling their behaviour and emotional ups and downs, often without apparent signs or causes (Leitch et al., 2019). In many cases, a child's absent-mindedness can also trouble the caregiver because the reminders and reminders need to be repeated many times before they are noticed, and these situations can also cause psychological stress for the patient, not only the caregiver. In the study of Leitch et al. (2019), a respondent mentioned that his child often said that he was stupid or insane, showing a self-hatred attitude, and some respondents even mentioned that their Children often say they want to kill themselves. These children are aware that their problems may be causing distress to others but have no control over themselves (Kelly and Ramundo, 2006).
It can be seen that for families with ADHD children, a relaxing tour is almost impossible, and family members will be in a state of high tension most of the time to cope with the explosive energy of the patient at any time. Even when they try to travel, there are many surprises along the way because kids who do not have ADHD can suddenly get emotional or disruptive (Kelly and Ramundo, 2006). Therefore, for families with ADHD children, a relaxing tour is almost impossible, and family members will be in a state of high tension most of the time to cope with the explosive energy of the patient at any time. Even when they try to travel, there are many emergencies along the way because there is no method of knowing when a child with ADHD might experience a sudden emotional surge or disruptive behaviour. Currently, there is no research on the solution to this situation in the relevant information of the tourism industry. As a result, patients and their caregivers have fewer opportunities to travel, and when they travel, they are more limited in where and how they travel. As these ADHD patients grow up, their symptoms will gradually internalise and become more hidden, so they can travel without disturbing others. However, the transformation of external restlessness into internal restlessness can make it more difficult for the patient to relax during the journey and require more assistance from others. For example, the suppliers may need to create a quieter resting space or customise parts of the environment to be familiar to the patient (Junne and Moore, 2021).
In summary, ADHD patients and their caregivers are limited in travel opportunities and choices. Even if travel plans can be implemented, many patients cannot genuinely enjoy vacations like non-patients. The fact that they suffer from inequalities in the tourism industry can be verified.
References:
Kelly, K. and Ramundo, P. (2006) You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!: The Classic Self-Help Book for Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder. USA: Simon and Schuster.
Leitch, S., Sciberras, E., Post, B., Gerner, B., Rinehart, N., Nicholson, J. M. and Evans, S. (2019) Experience of stress in parents of children with ADHD: A qualitative study. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 14(1), 1690091. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17482631.2019.1690091. [accessed 11 June 2022].
Junne, L. and Moore, A. (2011) From boy to man: a personal story of ADHD. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties. 16(4), 351-364. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13632752.2011.616339?casa_token=U3ZC0orwpJ0AAAAA%3AiOtFEsdWbETq4Xhdxq8raZlWdKXd8d4-DyWfNj7svHckLzEpINS87OTpEgrTZ-UKab9FVStkkA. [accessed 09 June 2022].
Hidden disabilities in the travel industry have not been particular concern. However, the global total of neurodivergent adults is staggering, covering a wide variety of neurological diseases and disabilities, of which ADHD is one of the largest. This study attempts to understand the living state of ADHD patients and their unique needs in tourism to discover and discuss the unfairness of tourism to ADHD patients
Key Words:
ADHD, Hidden Disabilities, Inequity in Tourism, Physical Health, Mental Health, ADHD-related knowledge, Lack of Understanding, Creating ADHD Friendly Environment.
Discussion:
ADHD is a health disorder caused by congenital neurological abnormalities that lead to inattention deficits and hyperactive/impulsive behavioural disturbances due to the dissemination of excess activity energy (Kelly and Ramundo, 2006). ADHD mostly be diagnosed in childhood, and some patients are diagnosed with the disorder in adulthood. However, some people may not know they have ADHD for the rest of their lives because, in the eyes of non-professionals, many of the more explicit symptoms of ADHD are "normal behaviour" or "poor emotional management." ADHD patients' behavioural patterns will gradually change depending on personal background and level of socialisation, but what remains constant is being perceived as different. Therefore, from the perspective of others, the behaviour and thinking of these patients may be naughty, irrational, incomprehensible, or even crazy (Kelly and Ramundo, 2006). In the eyes of many, there are behaviours that can lead to patients being seen as unwelcome guests or unpleasant tourists that patients have no control over, even if they want to fit into mainstream behaviour patterns. When ADHD patients become travellers, practitioners who cannot understand these behaviours and an unfriendly environment can significantly affect their travel experience and even have to interrupt or change their itinerary.
The more primitive face of ADHD symptoms can be seen in the case of less socialisation. Taking child patients as an example, ADHD can make the child unable to truly calm down and directly cause its caregivers (parents, family members, nanny, teachers, etc.) to encounter more significant difficulties and pressures. Parents of patients report that their children are incredibly destructive, like volcanic eruptions, with difficulty controlling their behaviour and emotional ups and downs, often without apparent signs or causes (Leitch et al., 2019). In many cases, a child's absent-mindedness can also trouble the caregiver because the reminders and reminders need to be repeated many times before they are noticed, and these situations can also cause psychological stress for the patient, not only the caregiver. In the study of Leitch et al. (2019), a respondent mentioned that his child often said that he was stupid or insane, showing a self-hatred attitude, and some respondents even mentioned that their Children often say they want to kill themselves. These children are aware that their problems may be causing distress to others but have no control over themselves (Kelly and Ramundo, 2006).
It can be seen that for families with ADHD children, a relaxing tour is almost impossible, and family members will be in a state of high tension most of the time to cope with the explosive energy of the patient at any time. Even when they try to travel, there are many surprises along the way because kids who do not have ADHD can suddenly get emotional or disruptive (Kelly and Ramundo, 2006). Therefore, for families with ADHD children, a relaxing tour is almost impossible, and family members will be in a state of high tension most of the time to cope with the explosive energy of the patient at any time. Even when they try to travel, there are many emergencies along the way because there is no method of knowing when a child with ADHD might experience a sudden emotional surge or disruptive behaviour. Currently, there is no research on the solution to this situation in the relevant information of the tourism industry. As a result, patients and their caregivers have fewer opportunities to travel, and when they travel, they are more limited in where and how they travel. As these ADHD patients grow up, their symptoms will gradually internalise and become more hidden, so they can travel without disturbing others. However, the transformation of external restlessness into internal restlessness can make it more difficult for the patient to relax during the journey and require more assistance from others. For example, the suppliers may need to create a quieter resting space or customise parts of the environment to be familiar to the patient (Junne and Moore, 2021).
In summary, ADHD patients and their caregivers are limited in travel opportunities and choices. Even if travel plans can be implemented, many patients cannot genuinely enjoy vacations like non-patients. The fact that they suffer from inequalities in the tourism industry can be verified.
References:
Kelly, K. and Ramundo, P. (2006) You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!: The Classic Self-Help Book for Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder. USA: Simon and Schuster.
Leitch, S., Sciberras, E., Post, B., Gerner, B., Rinehart, N., Nicholson, J. M. and Evans, S. (2019) Experience of stress in parents of children with ADHD: A qualitative study. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 14(1), 1690091. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17482631.2019.1690091. [accessed 11 June 2022].
Junne, L. and Moore, A. (2011) From boy to man: a personal story of ADHD. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties. 16(4), 351-364. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13632752.2011.616339?casa_token=U3ZC0orwpJ0AAAAA%3AiOtFEsdWbETq4Xhdxq8raZlWdKXd8d4-DyWfNj7svHckLzEpINS87OTpEgrTZ-UKab9FVStkkA. [accessed 09 June 2022].