ADD/ADHD: Differences, Not Deficits

This article covers the fact that people with ADD andNow people who might take issue with this statement
ADHD have differences in their attention, and notwill say that ADD affects people with different levels
deficits. This is an important distinction which helps withof intelligence. So, there are some people with superior
the understanding that there are gifts in ADD/ADHD.IQ with ADD, and there are people with average IQ
The term for the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD haswho have ADD, and there are people with low IQ who
changed multiple times. In 1980, the term 'Attentionhave ADD.
Deficit Disorder' came to be. It has changed slightlyIrrespective of the IQ level ' each person with ADD
since then ' but the field is relunctant to change it againhas genius inside.
because of how negative that would be (it couldThe ADD brain has tremendous capacity for these
impact the advocacy and legislation that has beenaspects of genius:
achieved through hard work...)- Being unique: People with ADD often 'march to the
The question is: Are there really deficits?beat of their own drum'. They bring a unique
Well, sometimes there are deficits. Like when peopleperspective due to the fact that they are not
can't pay attention.'programmed' to conform ' and their ability to maintain
But what about the ability to hyperfocus?their unique nature can lead to many gifts throughout
People with ADD are often gifted with the ability tolife (when it's nurtured appropriately)
pay tremendous attention to things that are important- High levels of creativity: when the ADD mind
to them. They have have a singular attention spanreceives information ' it manipulates that information
which is far better than what 'non-ADDers' have ' ifdifferently. This leads to high levels of creativity.
they use their natural gift of hyperfocus.- Insightful: When using information differently than
To us ' this suggests a 'difference' in attention ' not anon-ADD people, ADD'ers develop significant and
'deficit'.useful insights
The term deficit itself refers to pathology and lack.- Direct: people with ADD can be very direct, to the
Differences refers to just that- differences.point and on target. This can be 'too much' for people
Recognizing this difference is important as wewithout ADD to handle ' as they aren't used to
advocate for a change in the paradigm of ADD 'information being presented so directly and accurately
toward a strength based diagnosis. One which- Quick to act: While many people suffer from
focuses on the gifts and differences, and not the lack'paralysis of analysis', the ADD mind is quick to take
and deficits.action and experiment ' hence the belief that geniuses
It's our contention that each and every ADD brain haslike Edison had ADD
genius in it. The definition of genius, as defined at- Can look at the same thing differently than others: As
includes: gen-ius: - an exceptional natural capacity ofalluded to above ' someone with ADD can look at the
intellect, especially as shown in creative and originalsame material as others and see very different things
work in science, art, music, etc.: the genius of Mozart. -and draw very different conculsions
natural ability or capacity; strong inclination: a special- Interpersonally intuitive: The powers of observation of
genius for leadership. - distinctive character or spirit Bythose with ADD can be very strong, and their intuition
definition ' to be a genius ' one has to be different fromparticularly powerful. This can be a challenge for
others.others who don't recognize this as a gift ' and it can be
People with ADD are different...perceived as a lack of 'tact'.
...and we contend that there is genius in each andThese traits, and many others ' lead to the gifts of
every one of them.ADD, and the genius that's inside.