Header Logo
About
Home About EPT EPT Resource Library
EPT Services
Neurodiversity Essentials Parenting Membership Emotional Regulation Programme Assessment Pathway One to One Support PDA Support EPT Resource Library Tusla Assessment and Therapeutic Services Brain Body Balance Masterclass 22nd Sept. 2025
FAQ
Client Login
Contact Us | EPT Clinic
View Newsletter

Passionate interests and different ways of communicating

Jul 06, 2026
Connect
Something I wanted to gently highlight this week is how often certain aspects of neurodivergence are misunderstood, particularly when it comes to communication and what are sometimes called “special interests.”
 
Many children, particularly autistic children, can have strong, passionate interests in particular topics. Sometimes these are seen as narrow or repetitive, but when you look more closely, they can also be a source of joy, learning, confidence, and regulation.
 
In the same way, communication may not always look as we expect. It may be more direct, more focused on interests, less conversational, or expressed through actions rather than words.
 
And I think it can be helpful to pause and ask whether what we are seeing as “different” might actually be something quite meaningful for the child.
 
Inside the membership this week, I explore this further, particularly how these interests and communication styles support children emotionally and developmentally.
 
 
Your Child and Adolescent Psychologist,
 
Lorraine Xx
 
P.S. In the Membership this week, we will talk about this in more details. 

 

Members, please login and go to your newsfeed to access this weeks deep dive. 

To join the Membership, click below 👇:

 Neurodiversity Parenting Membership

 

Responses

Join the conversation
t("newsletters.loading")
Loading...
What do we actually mean by neurodiversity?
I wanted to introduce a word this week that can sometimes feel a little uncomfortable, and that is the idea of ableism.   And I want to approach it gently, because this isn’t about blame or getting things wrong. Ableism, at its core, is simply the set of assumptions we tend to carry about what is “typical” or “acceptable” when it comes to how people think, behave, learn, or communicate....
What do we actually mean by neurodiversity?
I’ve been thinking recently about how often the word neurodiversity comes up in conversation now, and how, while it’s becoming more familiar, I’m not always sure we’ve had the chance to slow down and really sit with what it means. So for the next few weeks, we will have Siobhan Campion, an autistic adhd advocate, and psychologist with EPT Clinic delivering key masterclasses and workshops...
SNAs
Last week we looked at the new SNA guidelines and circular. To watch back, you can go to the SNA membership video inside the membership.  This week, we are conscious that we are moving towards the end of the school year, and many families are beginning to hear about changes for September. A new teacher.A different classroom.A new SNA. While schools often view these changes as part of the normal...

Newsletter for the EPT Community

Where you will find parenting tips, tools, resources, updates on assessments and more...
My Profile Login Store Professional Letter EPT Clinic's Blog!
GDPR Data Protection Policy Data Protection Notice Terms of Use
© 2026 Education, Psychology and Therapy (EPT) Clinic I Block B, Floor 2, The Smithland Centre, Waterford Road, Kilkenny, R95 FA0W, Ireland. All Rights Reserved.

Join Our Free Trial

Get started today before this once in a lifetime opportunity expires.