Positive Quotes about ADD

"More and more, the concept of ADD as a disorder is being qualified by inclusion of a string of positive qualities -- such as creativity, high intelligence, ability to do many things at once, an aptitude for small business entrepreneurship, and a powerful intuitive sense." - Susan Burgess, from "Think Fast! The ADD Experience (Hartmann, Bownman & Burgess).

"ADD people are high-energy and incredibly good brainstormers. They will often happily work 12 to 15 hours by choice. The business community should not fear ADD. Instead, they should see that they have a potential gold mine here.” - Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, a psychologist who is ADD herself (from an ABC News Report)

"You are not disordered." - Lynn Weiss, Ph.D., from "ADD and Creativity - Tapping Your Inner Muse."

"Think of an absentminded professor who can find a cure for cancer but not his glasses in the mess on his desk. These are the inventors, creators, poets -- the people who think creative thoughts because they don't think like everyone else." - Martha Denckla, M.D., Director of the Department of Developmental Cognitive Neurology at the Kennedy-Drieger Institute at John Hopkins.

"I've worked with many children, and took them all off medication. I think out of all the many we've worked with, there was one little boy we couldn't do much with... But with most of these children, I was told that they were 'little animals', couldn't sit still, were disruptive, couldn't do anything; under my guidance, I found them to be beautiful; they would die for you." - Marie Friedel, Founder and Executive Director, National Foundation for Gifted and Creative Children.

"There are many positives with ADD, including a surplus of ideas, creativity, excitement, and interest which accompany this kind of mind." - Sari Solden, "Women With Attention Deficit Disorder."

"The same right-brained children who are being labeled and shamed in our schools are the very individuals who have the skills necessary to lead us into the twenty-first century. These children process visually and randomly, and think holistically. They are intuitive problem solvers who get the big picture. They thrive on visual imagery and stimulation; these "attention deficit" kids can spend hours with computer and CD-ROM programs that mirror their thought processes. It's no wonder they are attracted to computers. The use of computers is congruent with the way right-brained children think." - Jeffrey Freed and Laurie Parsons from "Right-Brained Children in a Left Brained World"

"Several elements of the ADD mind favor creativity....As mentioned earlier, the term 'attention deficit' is a misnomer. It is a matter of attention inconsistency. While it is true that the ADD mind wanders when not engaged, it is also the case that the ADD mind fastens on to its subject fiercely when it is engaged. A child with ADD may sit for hours meticulously putting together a model airplane." - Edward Hallowell, M.D., and John Ratey, M.D., "Driven to Distraction."

"I think Ritalin and other psychoactive drugs for children will remain popular in this country until the values of our society change. There is an intolerance of temperamental diversity currently, yet it is that very diversity that has made our culture rich and worthy." - Dr. Lawrence Diller, author of Running on Ritalin.

"Being ADD, when I read a book about marine life my mind allows me to travel with the fish and imagine life beneath the sea. Or I can read a book about astronomy and dance among the stars...I may not immediately comprehend that 3+4=7, but I may fully realize that n+26=51 and that the missing number is 25." - Matthew Kutz, age 13, from "Think Fast! The ADD Experience (Hartmann, Bownman & Burgess).

"These children are not disordered. They may have a different style of thinking, attending, and behaving, but it's the broader social and educational influences that create the disorder, not the children." - Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D., from Myth of the A.D.D. Child - 50 Ways to Improve Your Child's Behavior and Attention Span Without Drugs, Labels or Coercion.

"Impulsivity, ability to tolerate being thought of as eccentric, spontaneity, and little tolerance for boredom, in addition to daydreaming, are listed as identifying characteristics of creative individuals...Given that some highly creative children engage in 'disruptive, attention-seeking behavior' in the classroom, it is not surprising that they are not valued by their teachers as much as more conforming, less creative students." - Bonnie Cramond, Ph.D., from "Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Creativity - What is the connection?" Journal of Creative Behavior.

"Your Edison-trait child has an inventory of positive qualities:
Openness to multiple sights, sounds, and thoughts
A daring or wandering imagination
A global perspective
Creative urges or compelling attraction for new ideas
Intense focus on his own pursuits and interests

"These are attributes of his outstanding gift for divergent thinking...It is the teacher's job to train your child to use convergent thinking skills.So they tend to overlook his divergent thinking strengths, and see only his weakness in convergent thinking." - Lucy Jo Palladino, Ph.D., "The Edison Trait - Saving the Spirit of Your Nonconforming Child."

"I'm alarmed that to think than modern science may be turning creativity into a medical disorder" - Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D., from "The Myth of the ADD Child."

"Russell Barkley, Ph.D., another expert in the field, notes that the children we call inattentive are also 'wild, funny, effervescent. They have a love of life.' As adults they 'can be incredibly successful' and gravitate into creative fields or make good salespeople" - Lucy Jo Palladino, Ph.D., from "The Edison Trait."

"In my opinion, the ADD brain structure is not truly an abnormality. In fact, I believe a very good case can be made that it is not only normal, though in the minority, but may well be a superior brain structure. However, the talents of the person with the ADD brain structure are not those rewarded by our society at its current stage of development. In other words, the problems of the person with ADD are caused as much by the way we have our society, educational system, and business methods organized as by other factors more directly related to the ADD itself." - Paul Elliott, M.D.

"The primary opportunity is to use a model or paradigm for describing ADD that's not disease-based and doesn't imply brain damage or what many children interpret as some type of retardation...a person must have hope; this model restores self-esteem, thus empowering individuals to change." - Thom Hartmann, "ADD Success Stories".

Thom Hartmann views the ADDer as a Hunter in a Farmer's world. The table below shows the negative 'Disorder' View, followed by Hartmann's more positive perspective. From Attention Deficit Disorder - A Different Perception.

Disorder Perspective

Distractible.
Attention span is short, but can become intensely focused for long periods of time
Poor planner, disorganized and impulsive (makes snap decisions).

Distorted sense of time: unaware of how long it will take to do something.

Impatient.
Doesn't convert words into concepts adeptly, and vice versa. May or may not have a reading disability.

Has difficulty following instructions.

Daydreamer.

Acts without considering consequences.

Lacking in the social graces.

ADD as a Natural Adaptive Trait"The Hunter"

Constantly monitoring environment
Able to throw themselves into the chase on a moment's notice.
Flexible; ready to change strategy quickly.
Tireless: capable of sustained drives, but only when "hot on the trail" of some goal.
Results oriented. Acutely aware of whether the goal is getting closer now.
Visual/concrete thinker, clearly seeing a tangible goal even if there are no words for it.
Independent.
Bored by mundane tasks; enjoy new ideas, excitement, "the hunt," being hot on the trail.
Willing and able to take risks and face danger.
"No time for niceties when there are decisions to be made!"