Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a medical disorder that affects the behavior of people in different age groups, genders, and across socio-economic and intelligence lines. Children with ADHD may talk too much, daydream, fidget, display impulsivity and have risk-taking behavior. However, there is more to it. There are many things about ADHD that people may not know of. Here are some:
- People living with ADHD can be super-focused when they are really interested in what they are doing such as playing an instrument, playing video games, a sport or any subject they love. It is when they lose interest is when their minds wander off. It is this inconsistency of attention that can lead to inconsistencies in school or work performance. Too often, people with ADHD are labeled as lazy by parents, teachers and bosses. Due to this “moral diagnosis” a person’s symptoms can become worse and make them underachieve, feel shame and have low self-esteem
- Additional symptoms of ADHD include the tendency to be willful, to multi-task, have a low tolerance of frustration, a desire to be free and independent, sometimes have trouble with authority, have poor organizational skills, and restlessness. Also they can have a tendency to procrastinate, have trouble following sequential directions and have a poor tolerance for boredom among other things.
- When treating a person with ADHD, you must teach them that this is not a “deficit disorder,” but more of a condition that can actually be associated with success. Several Pulitzer Prize winners, generals, admirals, Nobel Prize winners, leaders and world class chefs live with ADHD. The only disabilities here are fear, and shame. Additionally, treatment can include tutoring to improve organizational skills and executive functions such as proper exercise, lifestyle modifications, sleep, and nutrition. Mindfulness training and meditation can improve symptoms of ADHD. For children, positive connections with people can go a long way.
- Is it a learning disability? ADHD is involuntarily inconsistent attention which can make learning in particular areas of disinterest more difficult. However such advantages such as outside-the-box-thinking, and creativity could qualify it as a learning advantage. It really depends on the subject.
Is your child living with ADHD? Contact Segal Institute today at 1-877-734-2588 to learn more or see if you qualify at http://studies.segaltrials.com/request-a-prescreen/
