| When we think of ADD or ADHD we usually think | | | | Just as in the case of distractibility, hyper-focus |
| of children with the inability to stay focused on | | | | also results from abnormally low levels of a |
| tasks they find boring or repetitive. In fact this | | | | neurotransmitter called dopamine. This makes it |
| short attention span is a key symptom of ADD | | | | harder for the brain to switch from something it |
| & ADHD. | | | | finds stimulating to a task your child may consider |
| But parents often get confused and wonder why | | | | more boring. |
| there seem to be times when they ADD child is | | | | Russell Barkley, author of many books on ADD |
| able to concentrate so intensely on something | | | | & ADHD, says "Children and adults with ADD |
| that he becomes oblivious of the world around | | | | have difficulty shifting attention from one thing to |
| him. | | | | another, if they're doing something they enjoy or |
| "I would call and call and then finally start yelling to | | | | find psychologically rewarding, they'll tend to |
| get Sammy's attention. When he plays video | | | | persist in this behavior after others would |
| games it's like he's in his own world and nothing | | | | normally move on to other things. The brains of |
| else exists. It makes me wonder if he really has | | | | people with ADD are drawn to activities that give |
| ADD" says Annabele Cooper, mom of 11 Sam | | | | instant feedback." |
| who was diagnosed with ADD a year ago. | | | | Often, children are not even aware that they are |
| Children are most likely to hyper-focus whilst | | | | concentrating so intensely. |
| playing a video game or watching TV. Unless you | | | | There's both a positive and a negative aspect to |
| intervene or some thing else disrupts your child's | | | | hyper-focus. If you child channels that focus onto |
| intense concentration, hours can go by without | | | | something productive, such as homework or |
| your child realizing it. This can have a detrimental | | | | studying for a test, then hyper-focus can be an |
| effect on many areas of a child's life, such as | | | | asset. |
| school performance, his social life etc. | | | | But if your child only uses the ability to |
| As a parent, you need to realize that having a | | | | hyper-focus on time suckers, like TV & |
| short attention span is only one aspect of ADD. If | | | | Video games, the negative consequences can |
| your child has ADD then he has a dis-regulated | | | | quickly add up. If it is left unchecked, |
| attention system, not just a short attention span, | | | | hyper-focusing can make a child loose out on all |
| as is commonly believed. | | | | sorts of educational and social opportunities. |
| What causes this hyper-focus? | | | | |