The Upside of ADHD (MSN)

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The Upside of ADHD
Enthusiasm, empathy and high energy among traits the disorder carries
by Marilyn Lewis for MSN Health & Fitness

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) hasn’t changed, but how experts view the disorder is evolving in a new direction. Instead of only focusing on the difficulties posed by ADHD, today, the upsides are likely to be noted, too: the quick-wittedness, the speedy grasp of the big picture and the great enthusiasm for nearly everything. These traits make ADHDers endearing and simultaneously exasperating.

This change may sound like just a new way of describing the same old thing, but to those with ADHD, the difference is profound. An estimated 2 percent to 4 percent of American adults and 3 percent to 7 percent of children have the brain-based disorder. For them, it’s the difference between seeing themselves as broken and thinking of themselves as having advantages, even if they have to cope with being fidgety, distractible or easily bored.

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Super article. Great new take.

Reminds me of the article somewhere about a ( rather radical) psychologist visiting a school and being told about a diagnosed, and medicated, ADHD boy , said, " Perhaps he's just bored" and the teacher saying "Yes, I know, but we were taught not to encourage this kind of behaviour because they will have to do boring jobs, and if they can't handle boredom they will be unable to get jobs".

I see they're finally listening to what we have been saying for ages!

I realized people tend to forget about one very important positive aspect of ADHD.

It is our Senior population - Who are these people at 70 or 80?

I worked in an assisted retirement complex for a few years and one day as I looked at everyone in the dining room I thought that statisicly 2 to 4 percent of these people would be ADHD. Out of 125 residence that would be 3 to 5 or 6 of them.

Which ones were they? Which ones would have been put on Ritalin if they were children now?

I chose the ones who had energy, who were effervecent, who participated in activities. who did most of the talking and entertaining at the dinner table. And whether they pushed a walker or were in a wheelchair, they got around - sure age slowed them down but their spirit was still warp speed.

Not a bad way to face the future.