What it’s like to have A.D.D. This is a statement, not a question.
A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) or often referred to as A.D.H.D. (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), hereinafter A.D.D. People with A.D.D. type issues can be an asset to your team if they have positive attitudes. It's a struggle for them but often they are honest, hard working and willing to do what they are taught. (This is not a generalization of all people, but is a statement based on what I have personally experienced because of my situation as well as others I have met in my travels that also claim to have ADD) They know they have learning issues, so they're often very cautious about making decisions, knowing that they forget and have to double think most tasks. Ask him if he wants to learn towing, It may take time, but in the long run, I'd rather end up with a loyal, ethics conscious worker on my team. I am 66 and now retired. I didn't know I had A.D.D. until I was 45. I can tell you all about those struggles.
It will be difficult for a non-A.D.D. person to totally comprehend what a person with A.D.D. is thinking or how to figure out his next move. They often stutter in their speech because their minds are way ahead of their speech which is trying to say what they think. They might even seem dishonest to some, but it's because their mind is already onto another subject and they could just be trying to focus on how to respond. They often are extreme multi-taskers. They also work well with a team, but do better as a team leader since they can easily delegate their assignments since they personally don't do well on long term projects. They're extremely proficient at short term "in and out" jobs. Often people with A.D.D. don't know they have it unless someone tells them. But the teller also needs to know how to communicate. Keep things simple, but don't talk down to them or as if they're stupid. Remember, keep your eyes focused on your results. You often don't get good results by treating your listener or targeted audience as if he's/she's/they're not worthy of your conversation.
They are often very good at math, computers and if given proper training can be very good at technical detail. But often cannot read instructions. They usually figure things out on their own. On the job training is the best thing for those with A.D.D.
People with A.D.D. are also very organized in their minds, but sometimes they have many jobs in progress. To the outsider, they appear scatter-brained. But if you don't watch their every move and simply look at their final results, you often will be very pleased. With A.D.D. I also found it very difficult to take written tests since none of the answers provided seemed to fit or become the right answer. I needed to explain my answer which always got the response, "I never thought of it that way!"
We not only look at things differently, we think differently. It's like speaking another language. Like men & womens think differently, so is A.D.D. and other humans.
Please don't take this as boasting or talking trash, but most ADD people are frikkin brilliant, and get bored easily, and hate standing around...direct opposites of those folks in our industry who LIKE standing around doing nothing. I'll pick up a broom and start sweeping, just for something to do. Then I would get ridiculed by the lazy guys for being a suck up. Sitting still listening to someone talk is BORING to them. They would rather be DOING than sitting.
I'm not certain all A.D.D. people are alike in their end results, so can only speak from personal experience. I had a difficult time holding a job because the company supervisors couldn't understand my often misdirected zeal or enthusiasm. Yes, I got bored and often failed to finish projects on your schedule, (which eventually got done), but in time I was able to control my productivity and found through trial and error the importance of start to finish then move on.
Although A.D.D. is referred to as a disorder, it may at times be an advantage since following instructions often limit your ability to express yourself.
Personally, in many cases, I don't think A.D.D. needs to be treated, I think it needs to be understood. This of course would be a personal decision and one that could have positive or negative effects on you and those in your association. Proceed with caution. So always consult a doctor if you have a medical concern.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is said to be a problem of not being able to focus, being overactive, at times not being able control behavior, or a combination of these. For these problems to be diagnosed as ADHD, they must be out of the normal range for a person's age and development. So before making any decision in any direction, read experiences, get a second opinion and definitely talk to others with A.D.D. for their personal input. Make your own decision.
It is my personal experience that I have a certain level of A.D.D. but have heard and later read that there are more extreme levels of A.D.D. than mine. My A.D.D. is also coupled with dyslexia. I have no depression but then again have never taken medication. I have never actually been diagnosed with ADHD, but how it came about that I did have it was an interesting story, well at least was interesting to me.
I was on Maui doing a bid for a project. As I was walking back to my truck to get the contract, the owner asks me if I'm dyslexic? I was in my mid 40's at the time and had never heard the word dyslexic. The customer explained that he felt I might be dyslexic because of the way I walked. My hands were faced more sideways instead of parallel to my body. More like how a gorilla holds his hands and arms. Since then, I have noticed that this IS how I walk. Then after a brief discussion with him, I find that much of what I went through as a child is how dyslexic people go through life. Everything that I have found said about the difficulty reading, the way I find it difficult to concentrate, the fact that I am very good at math but often have a difficult time explaining to others how I come to my answers. I stuttered when I was a child, which I finally overcame in my mid 20's. Not only do I verbally stutter, I also stutter in my brain. I actually stutter when I think. I have always had a difficult time concentrating on one project. I always have 3-4 projects going at most times. I have always been able to multi-task very easily. I also find it is easier for me to concentrate with music or TV going on in the background. When reading, I skip or transpose words, often unintentionally leave out a word here or there, I often skip lines and often even lose place where I am reading on the page. A few times, the whole page simply went blank and I had no idea where I was reading and sometimes even what I was reading. I have read portions of a book before and then thinking about it for a second, try to recall what I've been reading, and I have no idea what I've read unless I really focus on what it was and maybe someone might remind me. I have been in the middle of a conversation with someone and then during that conversation, I forget what I'm talking about. When in a conversation with my wife, if that would happen, I ask her what I was talking about and she would tell me, "I don't know, I don't listen to you anyways!" Because of the difficulty I have in working for others, I have always been self-employed. I find it very easy to begin and run businesses, often 2-3 businesses at one time. The story goes on and on, but I can for a fact relate to ADHD children and adults very easily. Nothing I have read about this subject surprises me and I can relate to it all. I have found how to live with ADHD and have never considered it a disability. Maybe a liability, but never a disability.
A letter from school
Dear Mr & Mrs White, your son lacks discipline, good social skills, has uncontrolled energy seemingly causing hypertension in the display and interaction with other children.. He appears to have some sort of behavioral disorder causing interpersonal relationships with other students.
1) He does not play well with other children,
2) he always gives away everything he has so he never seems to have what he needs.
3) He constantly says he forgot to do his homework assignments and
4) He often cannot even remember what those assignments were.
5) his concentration levels are seriously lacking as he seems to be off in another world someplace.
6) He daydreams far too often which makes us feel he is not getting enough sleep at night.
7) He always fails to organize his homework assignments as instructed.
8) He has difficulty reading and doesn’t seem to want to improve or make any positive changes.
9) Although at times, we find him quite humorous, he often does disrupt the classroom.
10) Not only do we find that the “cracking of his jokes” is disruptive, he cannot sit still, is always fidgeting with his hands or feet during quiet time thereby disrupting others.
11) His ability to focus on any one task to its completion simply does not exist.
12) In fact, he seldom finishes what he starts and has difficulty following directions when he does.
He is extremely likeable but we don’t feel that we have the ability to deal with him according to our established directives. It is our suggestion that you get him professional help before he attains to adulthood, obtains employment, creates a relationship or bears children as we are certain that he will have a seriously negative impact on any that is attempted. Failure to do so is certain to condemn him to a life of challenges wherein solutions at that point will be hard to find.
Sincerely,
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