Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are disorders on which there is very little agreement. Some studies state that these disorders are more common among American Indians, while others found no difference between Indian and white students in how likely they are to have ADD or ADHD. There are a great many arguments regarding what treatments are effective, whether people with ADD/ ADHD even want accommodations made for them and what causes ADD, whether it is a behavior disorder or health impairment or simply a different way of thinking.
What is generally agreed on is that ADD/ ADHD is one of the more common disabilities in the school system. It is also clear that attention deficit causes problems for most students and their families. ADD is not magically cured when people become adults or leave the school system. In fact, SLC consultant Willie Davis has written on article for vocational rehabilitation counselors on helping people with ADD succeed on the job.
People with ADHD have difficulty controlling their attention, movement or impulses. Some, like Rusty, have difficulty with attention but are not hyperactive. Students with ADD have trouble sustaining their attention, especially on boring, repetitive tasks. That might sound understandable, but, when you think about a lot of needs, from learning your multiplication tables to doing your taxes to filling out a job application, they aren't too exciting, but you need to get them done. Another common problem is resisting distractions. To get your work done, any work, you need to be able to tune out distractions. You probably can't remember what the person sitting behind you in this classroom is wearing, or what color shoes your instructor has. You may not even remember what color shoes you are wearing! Those facts were simply not important. You were able to avoid thinking about them and focus on sitting down at a computer, clicking the right links and arrive at this website. The third common characteristic of ADD is not paying enough attention to details and organization. You remembered the workshop was today, the time you needed to be here, the room it was in. You woke up early enough to get here, had gas in your car, or had arranged a ride. You arranged child care for your children. Think how much more frustrated you would be right now if you had forgotten one of those details.
