Understanding Trauma and Neurodiversity in Foster Care
Around 15–20% of UK children are neurodivergent, and many in care also live with trauma. In this blog, we explore how trauma interacts with conditions like autism, ADHD, and FASD, and how ACS supports foster families to meet each child’s unique needs with compassion, understanding, and the right tools.
An estimated 15-20% of children in the UK are neurodivergent, meaning they live with a neurological condition such as Autism, ADHD or FASD.
To be neurodivergent means that a person’s brain functions differently from most other people, who are classed as ‘neurotypical.’ Let’s learn how these conditions can interact with trauma, and what support we offer here at ACS to children and their foster parents.
Understanding neurodiversity in foster care
One study from Public Health England found that neurodiverse children are more likely to face challenges including poverty, abuse and unstable home environments than their neurotypical peers. When you welcome a neurodiverse child into your home, they’re likely to have experienced trauma due to the unique circumstances which led to them needing the support of a foster family.
Living with both trauma and a neurodivergent condition can lead to unique complexities. Let’s explore 3 of the most common neurodiverse conditions and how they interact with childhood trauma.
Understanding autism in foster care
- Around 1/100 UK children have autism. Autism is a neurological difference in the brain which leads to a person experiencing the world in a unique way. Autism presents in many different ways and to varying degrees, but some common traits include challenges with sensory processing, intense likes and dislikes, communication differences and difficulties with managing changes in routine.
- Autistic children are at an increased risk of experiencing trauma due to their heightened sensitivity to change and sensory stimuli. Research shows that exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences increases the risk of poor mental health outcomes for Autistic children, with links to conditions such as anxiety and depression.
- Some of the characteristics of autism can overlap with childhood trauma responses— for example, both Autistic children and neurotypical children who have experienced trauma may exhibit self-soothing stimming behaviours, may appear withdrawn or may face challenges in social situations.
- In order to be properly supported, Autistic children who have experienced trauma need care which recognises their unique needs. That means creating safety through routine, building sensory-friendly environments and crafting trusted relationships. A trauma-informed approach that prioritises regulation and autonomy helps children to feel secure and understood.
Understanding ADHD in foster care
- Over 700,000 children in the UK live with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Some symptoms commonly associated with ADHD include making careless mistakes, interrupting others, being restless and struggling to pay attention or sit still. If a child’s ADHD symptoms are left unmanaged, it can lead to a range of challenges including behavioural difficulties and underachieving at school.
- ADHD can present in 3 different ways: a person may show mostly inattentive symptoms, mostly hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, or they may have combined-type ADHD, where they display strong traits of both.
- Children with ADHD are more vulnerable than their peers to the impacts of trauma. Some symptoms of living with childhood trauma can overlap with ADHD symptoms, including being easily distracted, restless, impulsive or struggling to sleep.
- You can support a child living with ADHD and trauma by providing a calm environment where they are able to express themselves, using clear communication alongside co-regulation strategies, and by using grounding techniques like breathing exercises when they’re feeling overwhelmed.
Understanding FASD in foster care
- FASD is an umbrella term for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, covering a range of conditions which can result from a mother drinking alcohol while pregnant. Babies born with FASD can experience many adverse effects, including physical disabilities and organic brain damage.
- FASD in fostered children and adopted children is very common. It’s a widely misunderstood condition, and one expert identified that as many as 90% of children with the condition may be undiagnosed, or may be incorrectly diagnosed as having either ADHD or autism.
- Having already experienced trauma in the womb, children with FASD are at increased risk of facing neglect or instability within their family home. Symptoms of FASD and trauma cross over in several areas: for example, children living with FASD or trauma tend to hit milestones later than their peers and may be perceived as ‘not acting their age’.
- Children with FASD are particularly vulnerable. For example, they are at an increased risk of exploitation due to a tendency to be more trusting than other children and not fully understanding some social norms. Children living with FASD and trauma need careful adult guidance and will likely need ongoing support as they enter adulthood.
- Many children with FASD have a limited ability to change their behaviour due to organic brain damage. This is why it’s important to adapt their environment to suit their needs by introducing simple, stable routines, using clear communication, and by being by their side to provide support and co-regulation.
How to support a neurodiverse child in your care
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Learn to understand behaviour as communication.
Many neurodiverse children face challenges in communicating their needs, and that’s why it’s important to learn to read behaviour as a form of communication. For example, if your Autistic foster child becomes upset during bathtimes, consider their sensory needs: are they overwhelmed by the smell of shampoo? Do they find sounds like the showerhead or the sound of the plughole draining overwhelming? Be attentive to your child’s needs and make adjustments to help make their world a little easier for them to navigate.
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Access resources at school.
With the help of social workers and the SENCO at your child’s school, you’ll be able to access holistic support which can include the help of a SEN teaching assistant in the classroom or reasonable adjustments to aid in learning.
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Take part in our training
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Our training for foster parents covers a range of topics including Understanding Neurodiversity, Autism, ADHD & FASD. By making the effort to fill in any gaps in your knowledge and getting live expert advice from our trainers, you’ll be in the best position to support your foster child. -
Make time for self-care.
Fostering takes a lot of physical and emotional effort, even more so when caring for a child with complex needs. It’s important not to neglect your own needs— be sure to take some time for yourself, whether that be an indulgent face mask and a soak in the bath with a good book or a gruelling session at the gym while the kids are at school.
Could you foster a child with additional needs?
All across the UK there are children who need suitable foster homes. If you believe you could foster a child, contact our team today or learn more about what it might be like to transfer to ACS. From our expert team to our generous fostering allowance, we’ll do all we can to help your family foster and thrive.
