Parent Debate | ADHD Information

I used to think that my son's teachers just weren't being interesting enough to hold his attention and that school was just too easy for him.  He is very bright, but now I know that adhd children can focus on what they love for a long time; it's focusing on stuff they need to learn and may not be too interested in that is the problem. The way our son's neurophsych explained it to us was that an ADD child can focus quite well on things they find interesting, but are unable to focus on things that they don't find interesting.  Now that is true for everyone to some degree, but for the "typical" person they can see the need to get the task done, and focus on it in order to accomplish it.  People with ADD are unable to focus their attention on the task in order to get it done, despite knowing that it needs to be done.  Also keep in mind that it affects different people in different ways and to varying degrees. I beleive its beyond "just one item".  My dd is ADHD. Before, dominant factor was hyperactivity, now its less hyper  - more not able to focus. And yes, she can hyperfocus on cartoons and remeber lines from, but can not remeber times tables!?She is ten.

Scientists have recently linked ADHD with Autism.  Autistic children have a tendency to zone in on one particular thing and tune out everything else. 

I have an adopted cousin who is both Downs and Autistic.  She never misses a thing, but she seems lost in her own little world.  If you tell a joke and you don't think she's paying attention, she starts laughing at the punch line.  She's very bright, and has a wicked sense of humor.  You know she has accepted you if she takes your hand and takes you for a walk.  She has very few words, but she can tell you she loves you without them.  She also has a nasty temper, when she loses it!  Doctors never gave her much of a chance past 10 years old, but she's 50 this year!  But she is autistic.  She sits on the couch rocking back and forth, twirling a pink string (it can't be any other color.)  She'll do this all day, every day.

Do I see this in my son?  No.  Do I think the scientists are right or wrong?  Who knows?  I only know that every child tunes their parents out when they're getting a lecture or think they know more than you do!  It's been that way since the dawn of time, and it will probably happen until the world comes to an end.

I guess I am waisting time then our son prefers fun over school anyday. He will say who cares about school. Sad that a 10 yrold wants to quit/hates school. I regret labeling him cause I don't think the pshc/school really gets my kid at all. He tolds us I am quitting. This was before the new school though. He hates anyone who get's on to him are your kids like that. He will say you get on my nerves. ivanhoe38974.5433564815

Our children can focus really well on things they are interested in.  Before my girl was diagnosed the school psychologist told me he wanted to screen her for ADHD and I thought but she can sit still watching something on TV she likes I thought kids with ADHD could not sit still for anything.  After diagnosis and us getting a second opinion here we are and now i am more educated.

my 4 year old is ADHD and can sit at school at story time now(with a lot of encouragement,an extra teacher and a lot of patience)it took a year but he finally did it.

it has something to do with hyperfocus like somebody said earlier,ADHD is a very complex condition.

kiki..... it's been my experience that the ADHD is more in settings where he is unfamiliar -- he gets "wound up" at pre-school when there is a lot of stimulation or in places he has not been.  I don't think ADHD can be defined or undefined simply by looking at one situation, i.e., the ability to sit for a story (my son who is most definitely ADHD can sit for 30 minutes if you read to him).  I think you have to look at the entire picture.  He is behind in motor skill development, he is immature socially, he "copes" by getting wound up, etc. etc. etc.  No one factor can diagnos a child.

Hi, we are a few parents who have children some dxd , some not (yet anyway).    Many of us believe that if our young children (age 3 and 4) can sit a good 10-15 minutes for a story, or concentrate on a puzzle and finish it, or play a board game that they cannot have ADD/ADHD.

some disagree.     What do you all think? 

Not to debate but then how to explain?   At least when they are young?    Is it then selective?    Are children supposed to concentrate on WHAT we tell them to and that is how they diagnose?   confused..............................My son could always sit for 15 minutes for a good story or a board game--even when he was 3. If he is interested, he will sit for long periods of time. He'll play chess for over an hour. He will read for 30 consecutive minutes. He's got ADHD.Welcome kikios. Actually, when children ith ADHD are participating in an acitivity that really interests them, they have the ability to hyper focus meaning their concentration level is far superior to those without ADHD. Research has indicated that children with ADHD can exhibit intense concentration and single minded focus when the acitivty is very interesting. However, if you want to debate I suggest that you post in the debate folder.My son could stay on the computer for hours and he is about as ADHD as they come.