The Stories of Children with a Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Narrative Analysis

The aim of this research is to explore the stories of children who have a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) through an exploratory, narrative approach. This research was conducted using a relativist, social constructivist paradigm. Three participants were recruited and asked to share their stories through unstructured interviews. These stories were restoryed using Clandinin and Connelly’s (2000) Three-Dimensional Structure of Human Experience. These restoryed narratives then provided the basis for a commentary of the narrative themes and sub-themes found across the stories. The underlying theoretical framework of positioning theory considered how children position themselves, addressing references to power imbalances in relation to Foucauldian theories. This research aims to inform Educational Psychologist practice by highlighting the voice of the individual behind a diagnosis.