Attention Deficit

Marie is one of the best readers in her class. Her comprehension is a good 3 years ahead of the rest of her first grade peers, and yet she forgets to write down her daily homework assignments. Her grades begin to slip. Her teacher, Mrs. Graber, catches on and for whatever reason (maybe she sees potential in the child?) she makes it a point to remind this shy little student, every single day, "Don't forget to write down your homework assignments," and then stands next to her to see to it that she writes them all down. Mrs. Graber lets a few weeks go by, watching the pattern of behavior for signs of change before deciding to mention it to Marie's mother.

"I'm no doctor, but I think your child might have Attention Deficit Disorder," Mrs. Graber says over the phone. Marie's mom responds with, "why, what makes you think that?" Mrs. Graber pauses, weighing carefully her next words, before she continues. "I think Marie is actually quite brilliant, and very smart, but she is one of the most forgetful students I've ever seen. She has been forgetting her homework almost daily, I have to constantly remind her to write down her assignments, and I always catch her daydreaming. She's very distant, almost like she's in her own little world." Mrs. Graber and Marie's mother chat a while longer before hanging up the phone, and the mother is left with a hopeless, helpless feeling. She knows the teacher's words are true because she has seen the behavior herself, but she also knows her child is gifted. She finds herself worrying endlessly over Marie's future, and the difficulties that lie ahead if she really does have A.D.D.

~~~

Attention Deficit; such a cruel sounding term, if you think about it. Deficit, as defined by the American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary, is a lack or impairment in mental or physical functioning. Further, A.D.D. is characterized by failing to give close attention to details or making mistakes in schoolwork; difficulty sustaining attention to tasks; seeming not to listen; failing to follow instruction or finish work; being unorganized; losing things like school assignments, books, tools, etc.; and being easily distracted and forgetful about daily activities. But what so many people fail to see is the level of creativity that comes from the individual with A.D.D. There are so many misconceptions about A.D.D. it's unbelievable. Here is an excerpt from the website, borntoexplore.org:

Many people assume ADDers cannot pay attention.  This is completely false.  In fact, ADDers are known to "hyperfocus" on anything which captures their attention, to the point where it is difficult to distract their focus.   It is true, however, that a higher degree of interest is necessary before the ADDer can pay attention.  ADDers do not tune-out or daydream on purpose or to be rude.   Some people have likened it to having an on-off switch in the brain.  Interest is needed to activate or "turn on" the brain, after which the ADDer can pay attention.  If there is no interest, then the brain is "off" and the ADDer is likely to do something to try and get it back on.  This can include sensation seeking, daydreaming, or becoming immersed in something the ADDer finds very interesting. It can also include disruptive behavior. This might be nature's way of making sure that some people are always on the lookout for something new and interesting - these are our explorers and discoverers.  Ritalin and other stimulants appear to work by artificially stimulating the brain, allowing the ADDer to tolerate a duller setting than they could otherwise function well in (e.g. schools).

Did you catch that last part? Kids (A.D.D. is usually first diagnosed in kids that have had characterizing symptoms of the illness from at least 7 years of age) are put on Ritalin, or similar medication, to allow them to tolerate a duller setting than they could otherwise function well in. Doesn't that sound suspicious? Kids are being put on mind-dulling medication so they can perform well in school when they are under-stimulated by what they are learning. They are put on medication so they can focus and perform on the same level as everyone else. Yet when it comes to a subject or topic these kids find interesting, they can focus on the material so intently that it becomes difficult to distract them.

So, Attention Deficit is actually a bit of a misleading name for the context of this so-called mental illness. A level of creativity and attentiveness is often observed in the A.D.D. mind that is vastly unlike the levels exhibited by "normal" minds of the same age.

Here is another excerpt from the same website listed above:

Oppositional behavior is often confused with ADD.  ADD in itself does NOT directly cause oppositional behavior.  It can, however, indirectly result in anger and oppositional behavior if the ADDer is chronically mistreated, for example, by parents and teachers who continually blame the child for not "performing" like other children.   Such children may give up trying to please their parents and instead misbehave out of frustration and anger. Otherwise, ADD kids are often described as enthusiastic and affectionate by understanding parents.

Well, here is some information that would have been very beneficial for Marie's mother to read. Instead, not understanding, and feeling frustrated after taking Marie to the doctor who confirmed the A.D.D. diagnosis, she hurls her resentment at Marie. Homework becomes a constant battle, when it used to be something that Marie and her mother enjoyed doing together. Now, homework sessions often end with violent arguments and tears. All Marie wants is to be able to do and see things the way she wants to, not the way everyone else thinks she should. Her confidence takes a shattering dive, and although she is placed in the Gifted and Talented program the next year, she resents it. To her, it spells out her many differences from her classmates, instead of highlighting her creativity. Maybe if she were more like everyone else, her mother wouldn't be so angry with her all the time.

If she only knew how brilliant her little mind actually is..