In your article (You be the judge: should my housemate stop brushing her teeth at the kitchen sink?, 18 September), both Raquel’s prosecution and the jury’s verdicts made me feel so sad, as it seemed as if there was so little understanding of what ADHD means to the person who lives with this condition.
As the mother of an adult son who has been diagnosed with ADHD, I have learnt a lot about ADHD from courses (including the excellent online Open University course), various books and podcasts and from listening to my son when he talks about how life feels and works (or sometimes doesn’t work) for him.
Someone with ADHD cannot just choose or decide to change their behaviour – their actions stem from neurological differences, not from a lack of motivation or willpower. It is possible with, for example, therapy and mentoring, to develop strategies that can help with symptoms. But, most importantly, anyone who is neurodivergent needs understanding and support, without being made to feel that they are using their difference as an excuse.
Sue Marshall
Faversham, Kent
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