Question about Hyperfocusing | ADHD Information
I was thrown by hyperfocusing, too - the fact that my son can get so into something, and is doing well academically, made me resist the label of ADHD. However, talking to his doctor made me realize that he does have it. Now I'm trying to figure out a way to use it to his advantage, and to get him to tune in when appropriate. For instance, he concentrates on reading better when he's using a computer rather than a book because he's "into" computers.
Good luck!
What the teacher described can be symptoms of adhd, and it also sounds like he's really putting in some effort with the math. I'm not sure that what he's doing is a bad thing though. If he doesn't understand the material then it's probably beneficial for him to stick with one problem at a time until he's figured it out. Sure, it doesn't work out so well for the teacher, but not all kids learn at the same rate. As long as your son is not suffering (failing, low self esteem) then it probably won't hurt to give him a little time and a little extra help with the math.
Also, in my experience, with myself and my 9 yr. old, hyperfocus tends to happen more so with things that the person is interested in. For my son, it's stuff like football, legos, and playing "spy' or "army." I wish I could get him to do it with school work.
Hyperfocusing is not well understood and only recently getting some attention by professionals. You won't find it on the ADHD questionnaire but it is often associated with ADHD. I have two kids with hyperfocus ability and it has allowed them to become very talented in some areas. Both are considered gifted. One is Gifted/ADD. The younger does not yet have the diagnosis off ADD but is considered marginal for ADD. The grades have never been an issue for either child.
My oldest was not diagnosed until 5th when she fell apart emotionally trying to compensate for her ADD. My second dd I have had evaluated last year in second grade and I will have the teacher fill out the ADHD questionnaire this year just so that I have the information. This year's teacher "accommodates" dd's hyperfocusing by touching her on the shoulder and doing some warning system involving using her fingers so that the whole class transitions better. Dd is never punished for hyperfocusing this year. In the past she was punished and she was suffering emotionally trying to compensate. She was embarrassed, humiliated and frustrated because she couldn't can't control the hyperfocus effectively.
Personally, I wonder if hyperfocusing is characteristic of very bright children. I have no evidence of this except my own family. There are many hyperfocusing members of our family and this ability to concentrated so intently can be a great advantage as young adults. They tend to be the absolute best at what they do for a living. There have been terrible results when a parent has tried to strong-arm them into a career choice that is of no interest the the person. I am just encouraging my dd's in the areas where they are naturally interested. It kills me that one of my girls might end up a starving artist but there is no way to fight the area of hyperfocus. They NEVER can hyperfocus on what they are not interested. They do the minimum to get by, moaning and complaining the whole time. Hence, I have a math tutor for one of my girls so that she doesn't drive us both insane doing math homework.
Here is a neat article regarding hyperfocusing:
http://www.additudemag.com/additude/article/612-3.html
mamark39542.2660763889Although I'm still learning about "hyperfocusing", I've come to believe that our 8yr old 2nd grader has this issue.2 years ago, I believed the doctor's AD/HD diagnosis because Jacob was very hyperactive. But I didn't understand the world's idea that ADHD children cannot pay attention in school and are all trouble makers.
Jacob pays close attention in class, and everything he sets his heart on doing. I've come to believe that this is called hyerfocusing. Right now, he's doing very well in school. We got his report card yesterday and it was all A's and A+'s!!! His teacher says he's at a 4th grade level in math, reading, and social studies. Currently, he's been identified by the school as "gifted/telented" and is being tutored by the schools gifted/talented teacher. (I'm not bragging, but only trying to make the point that not all AD/HD kids are problems in our schools.)
When people say that they cannot believe our son is ADHD, we remind them that (1) he's being properly treated, and (2) he hyperfocuses. When they ask what hyerfocusing is all about, I reply by stating, "It's not that he cannot pay attention, it that he cannot STOP paying attention."
However, hyperfocusing is not a great thing to have. It can cause problems such as worrying about things that don't matter very much, kids may like to argue, be oppositional to parents and teachers, want things done a certain way, thinking "their way" is the "right way", and have trouble shifting attention from one activitity to the other. Our son, Jacob, has issues with all these.
The major question I'm trying to answer is, "Is hyperfocusing a symptom of ADHD or a result of being gifted?" I guess only time can tell. But one thing for sure... if our son was not on meds, he wouldn't be doing so well in school. So, we definitely beleieve our son is AD/HD, but also gifted.
I hope our situation with our son may help you as you try to figure out your own.I have a couple of opinions. First, having to sometimes "pull him back" and other times he is "hyperfocusing" sounds very ADHD to me. That said at 6 it is also very reasonable to give it another good year until age 7 to sort out the cause. I know I didnt really give you an answer, but at 6, some of it could still be "his age".Hi, MY son is in first grad and all year his teacher has suggest that he is ADD without the Hyperness. She said he seems not to focus very well and thatshe is always pulling him back. He is in first grade and doing well in school except for math which he does struggle with. My DD has ADHD and was Rx in the second grade. He doesn't sct nothing like she did at her age. I did mention it to the dr. but he thinks it may be is age and wants to wait as long as he is not getting into trouble or not failing. Well we went and talked to his teacher this last month for parents/teacher conferences, and she said it seem like now that he is hyperfocusing EX. she could be doing a math problem with the class and then going on to the next one we my DS stay one the first one until he figures it out and then moves on. Well by that time the class is way ahead of him and he is behind. Do ya'll have an opion on this. I would like to hear it. I personally don't think he has ADD but I may just be in denial. LOL thanks Melissa
Being ADHD does not mean you are stupid or going to be a academic failure.
I get so frustrated at this attitude from teachers and doctors. It's like being ADHD is a death sentence. I think this negative attitude from those that are suposed to be helping is the reason that so many parents fear the diagnosis. Doom and gloom! Doom and gloom! They never say, "Let's figure out how to harness your child talents." All the comments are negative like," No, we must curb these behaviors now." They only want to change the child and not adapt the environment to the needs of the child
I am ADHD and I tend to hyperfocus on the important things to me. I am an artist and I can focus on the project that I am working on to the point where 4 hours past in the blink of an eye. I stop only because I finished the project, have to go to the bathroom or my back starts to aches. While it is great to be able to focus all your energy into your project, it does make transitions hard.
Remember too, there are different types of ADHD. You can be inattentive, impulsive, hyperactive or a combination thereof. In my family, each one of us was affected differently. My older brother was inattentive only, I am a combination of inattentive and hyperactive. My little brother won the jackpot and was a combination of all three, very heavy on the hyperactivity. You think my Mom wasn't a little crazy at times???? This was back in 60's when it was bad parenting or laziness causing this behavior.
Have the school do a screening if they are concerned then you can present that to your doctor and do a second opinion on your own.All my kids have problem in math. And the teacher says if he is forcusing more on his math then she thinks he would be passing. When i am with him at home on on one he tries to rush throught it without following directions. or not paying attention to the sighns. I have to slow him down and make him read directions or point out it is subtraction instead of addition. SO that is what he probly does at school also. I have broched the subjsect with the doc and he seem to think it is age and doesn't want to put him on med until he is in second grade. If we decide he needs them then. I am staying on top of the situation and foolow what the doc says. so unless Istart notice radical differences before second grade I am going to go alon g and wait to see if age is a factor in it. As far as a learning dissablitly. He is in speech class. And the school goes adhead and tests for other disablity since it is easier to get in one once you have an IEP for something else. According to the test he is only qualifiy for speech. So I don't think he has a disability but I will keep a closer eye on that too. Melissa
Thank you so much for all your answers. We are going to go ahead and hold off on meds. The doc wants to wait until he is in second grade anyway. He is doing well in school except for math and he is making a high D or a low C in that. And that is the only example she could give me of his hyperfocusing. He is not getting into trouble he has lots of friends. And dosen't have self esteem issues. So until all that starts showing up then I guess I will wait. Thanks again for all your replies. MelissaMelissa, don't you think something is going on if he is barely passing math? Has he always struggled with math or is it possibly just a problem with this teacher. Could he have a learning disability perhaps? Schools aren't big on early intervention. They usually wait until a kid fails. I agree with mamark. Dont wait for the school to make the first move. Advocate for your child, they are not going to offer help if he's not failing. Be careful with the wait and see approach. Fisrt grade is early, BUT scjools move at a snails pace, if there's question of an issue, best to get that rolling.My child's ADHD diagnosis should have happened years earlier than it did. It would have saved him a lot of heartache from all the behavioral and social problems. Diagnosis was delayed b/c nobody at school believed that he had ADHD b/c he pays attention so well in school. I finally realized everyone at school was wrong and he probably had ADHD. I pursued a private eval, and the neuropsychologist said that he very clearly has ADHD. The dr. also explained to me that ADHD kids can pay attention to things that interest them. However, they can have trouble maintaining focus on things that don't interest them. It's all about motivation!My son's psychiatrist has also told me he believes my son is Hyperfocused. I got a book about it at our public library. It's quite fascinating actually, the book I mean! lol Anyway, the book is by Dr. Daniel Amen...I can't remember the name of the book but I can look into it and you can PM me if you'd like more specifics about the book.
My son's Dr. explained the hyperfocusing just as some of you mentioned, he gets stuck on one thing and focuses so much, almost like obsesses about it and can't move onto another thing. It really is a very interesting theory.