The primary symptom of ADHD in young children is NOT attention span. ADHD is primarily a problem with executive function. The child hears and understand direction, for example, but is completely unable to complete it.
A typical morning with my DS7 who is ADHD:
7:00am - I wake him up. I usually have to sit with him for 5 mins to make sure he's actually out of bed.
5 mins later - I return to his room to tell him to get dressed.
5 mins later - I go back again to his room to find him playing with Legos. I remind him it's now 10 after and he still needs to get dressed and eat breakfast.
5 mins later - I go back to his room AGAIN and stand there while he gets dressed. (This is typically preceeded by a small fit.) We then make it to the kitchen, where he slowly, slowly gets his meds out and I ask him about cereal. Usually takes about 2-3 times asking to get him to answer what cereal. I then ask him to get a spoon. Most of the time I just get it myself, because it will take 3 more times of asking before he gets it. He then sits down to eat and I go get dressed.
10mins later - I come out of my room, dressed, to find him reading a book at the table. I remind him to finish eating and get his socks/shoes on because it's time to go.
I think you get the picture. DS can sit and read for HOURS. Last night he actually stayed up until 2 am (!!!!) reading Horrible History, The Woeful Second World War. I think ADHD + giftedness especially masks any attention issues, because they are interested in so much, especially at school.
Last edited by epoh; 12/06/11 07:36 AM.
