Q: My youngest son has been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD). The problem is that I see myself in my son when he is either struggling with his schoolwork or bouncing from one thing to another. I have as much trouble staying focused as he does. I always thought that ADD was a kid’s problem but now I am not so sure. Is it possible that I also have an attention deficit disorder and if so, what should I do about it?
A: The common assumption when people think about attention deficit disorder is that it is peculiar to those young people jumping around the classroom. But often the quiet child sitting in the back of the classroom daydreaming has as much trouble concentrating as the hyperactive child.
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ADD is a disability. It does not go away just because a person becomes an adult. In fact some prominent people are thought to have had ADD including Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison and John Lennon.
It is not always true that a person with ADD cannot concentrate on one particular subject. Many people find their own special interests, and when they have the freedom to focus on their interests, they are not easily distracted. To some, it is almost like an obsession.
My favourite story is of the young man who loved to wander around the farmyard searching for any kind of unused or discarded small engines. He spent hours with them. He struggled in school with reading, writing and arithmetic, but once he was finished with school, he moved to a larger community and built a lucrative business, repairing and leasing lawn mowers, fixing washing machines and tinkering with gadgets around the house.
The question you have to ask yourself as an adult is whether your attention deficit disorder is interfering with your present lifestyle.
If you are driving your wife crazy with your distractions, or if you are having a hard time providing a home for your family, you should probably check with a psychologist and your family doctor.
The psychologist will have a program you can follow to guide you through life’s daily challenges, and your doctor will have some medication to help you better manage. If, on the other hand, you are generally satisfied with life, you probably do not need professional help.
The bonus for your son is that you can understand some of the challenges he has to face in school and in the world. It is not always going to be easy for him, but with your help he can face those challenges with more confidence.
Jacklin Andrews is a family counsellor from Saskatchewan who has taught social work at two universities. Mail correspondence in care of Western Producer, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4 or e-mail jandrews@producer.com.
