The face of ADHD

@TheHorse (205200)
Walnut Creek, California
July 16, 2016 1:11pm CST
Do you have experience with children (or adults) with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)? It's one of those diagnoses that I think is overused. But some kids really do have it: they can't sit still, interrupt when a thought comes to mind, and can't focus on a task for any length of time. Or can they? When I work with ADHD kids, I tend to start with stuff like hiking and sports, but as we're hiking and playing sports, we're getting to know each other. Once I know what they like or are interested in, I can introduce them to activities that require focus and attention, and they often become remarkably focused, with great attention to detail. The kid in this photo has ADHD, but he likes making model airplanes with me. When I first told him I knew of an "old school" model airplane store in Berkeley, he was really excited. We've made three models so far and are working on a fourth. Sometimes he has to get up and go make a pretend military base and farm on the floor (I let him and continue to "model" focus on the project), but he always returns to the "safety" of our project together. Right now, we're working on a rather difficult helicopter, and I'm no longer surprised by how well he's doing. What's your experience with ADHD kids? Do you think it's sometimes used as an excuse for inattentive parenting (I do)? Have you figured out things that "work" with "true" ADHD kids?
12 people like this
14 responses
Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
16 Jul 16
I always smile to myself and think of the American humourist David Sedaris who, when confronted with a school teacher who said she specialised in kids with ADHD, asked her "Isn't that just another term for bad parenting?"
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Jul 16
It can be. One of the kids whose photo I use now and then was diagnosed with ADHD and put on meds. She did not have ADHD. Her mom just paid more attention to her little brother, and ignored her, because she was hoping the little brother's father would stick around. He didn't.
2 people like this
Sky
@skysnap (20154)
•
16 Jul 16
My nephew has partial ADHD along with hyperactive mind. It's not easy to be around him.
1 person likes this
Sky
@skysnap (20154)
•
17 Jul 16
@TheHorse computer games. he can listen only when you tempt him for tablet or something.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Jul 16
@skysnap Oh, you reinforce him for good behavior by letting him use some kind of device?
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Jul 16
What works best with him?
Your Highness Emperor Albert Whisker
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Jul 16
I have adhd as a kid and as an adult I have ADD. You can imagine all the rejection and discrimination I experienced growing up.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Jul 16
Do you do OK now?
Your Highness Emperor Albert Whisker
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Jul 16
@TheHorse I am doing fine but many people still find me weird with my mannerisms and behavior beyond my control.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Jul 16
@CaptAlbertWhisker Heh. Some people find me weird too, I am sure.
rebelann1949
@rebelann (111070)
• El Paso, Texas
16 Jul 16
Ever since the early 1980s doctors have been coming up with mental illnesses to cover the problems so many kids had when I was young, in my case (1961) the solution for hyperactivity was to give me tranquilizers .... yeah, they did make me slow down but unfortunately sleeping in class wasn't what they intended, I flunked 6th grade that year.
1 person likes this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (111070)
• El Paso, Texas
16 Jul 16
I heard about giving coffee to hyperactive kids back in the mid 1970s @TheHorse it seemed it would calm them down.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Jul 16
I wonder when the paradoxical idea of giving hyperactive kids speed came along. It seems to work for some.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Jul 16
@rebelann I've had ADHD kid clients tell me that. "It calms me down!" I won't buy them coffee unless their parents say it OK.
1 person likes this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
17 Jul 16
I know they can focus, the key is finding what helps them do so, or what they are interested in
1 person likes this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
18 Jul 16
@TheHorse it is the key to getting them to be able to focus on other things for sure
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Jul 16
Finding what they're interested in is really imprtant to me.
1 person likes this
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
16 Jul 16
My girlfriend has ADD.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Jul 16
How does it show itself?
1 person likes this
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
16 Jul 16
@TheHorse - She is hard to follow during conversion because she has like six things going on in her head so she is all over the place.
~Jodi~
@jeanena (2198)
• Bucklin, Kansas
26 Jul 16
My youngest daughter ADHD OMGosh she was out there sometimes..bless her heart she would sit still in her chair most of the time her head was in the seat of it.As she got older there was some depression with the ADHD , we only used medication for a short period of time. Now my oldest grandson has been diagnosed with ADHD and ODD.
Dominique
@dodo19 (47038)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
16 Jul 16
I have ADD. I have a problem with attention mostly. I don't think it's as bad as it was, but it's still something I struggle with.
1 person likes this
Dominique
@dodo19 (47038)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
16 Jul 16
@TheHorse definitely. That's something else I do quite a bit. I lose my train of thought.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Jul 16
Do you get off subject, or easily distracted, during a conversation?
1 person likes this
Jennifer
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
16 Jul 16
I do think it is overused for parents who lack in disciplining their children. Maybe some children do have it-but not most...
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Jul 16
Yep. It would be interesting to see (from my perspective) what percentage of cases are "real."
2 people like this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
17 Jul 16
no experience of ADHD kids though I see lots of lousy parenting - the model making activity sounds a great way to reach and interact with the boy you are looking after
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Jul 16
I'm glad we discovered this thing we both enjoy. He gets distracted, but overall, he does well at focusing on the task at hand.
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7463)
• Canada
17 Jul 16
I have been around people who definitely had ADHD and I don't argue with the concept of giving them a little medical help. On the other hand I lived in a neighbourhood in Quebec where all the kids in our neighbourhood were diagnosed ADHD by the school and put on medication. None of them needed it. Our kids were home-schooled and that was a factor in our decision to do so.
Jabo
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
16 Jul 16
I've had no experience of this at all, but you must br a real help to kids that do have it.
Wendy789
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
18 Jul 16
Yes it is way over used, like OCD. I don't think people really understand it, it's just convenient to say
DJ
@Daljinder (23228)
• Bangalore, India
16 Jul 16
You are talking about a diagnosis which is overused and over here there is no diagnosis at all.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205200)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Jul 16
What do they call hyperactive kids in India? Kids?