My Child Can Play Lego for Four Straight Hours. He Can't Possibly Have ADHD....Right?

One of the most frustrating aspects of being a parent to a school-aged child is the feeling that they are not performing to the heights of their potential.

We see our kids struggle and become frustrated and this in turn causes us also to feel frustrated, maybe even irritated or even exasperated.

The good news is that most of the factors standing in the way of your child’s ability to thrive are identifiable and correctable.

As a Clinical Neuropsychologist in practice for over 15 years evaluating primarily children and adolescents, and also as the father to a 13-year old boy, I’ve consistently heard about (and seen in my own child) how lack of focus can not only stand in the way of great success, but also lead to poor school performance, behavioral change, low self-esteem and significant effects on the family unit.

Among the more common statements I hear from parents is that their child is capable of spending hours doing whatever it is they love - be it arts and crafts, Lego, or video games - and seem to be locked in from start to finish.

Many of these same parents assume that because this is so, that their child cannot be struggling with an attentional disability, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD.

And of course, why would they? My next set of questions to them, however, often makes them reconsider: Specifically, I will ask them, “What happens when they need to focus on something - a task or topic - that holds less interest to them?

At that point, they will often experience an ‘aha’ moment and realize that their position no longer holds up.

A Disorder of Directed Focus

ADHD in fact is a disorder of directed focus: Specifically, the ability to direct and maintain one’s attention, particularly when not drawn to - or even “bored” - by the subject matter.

We all experience this to varying degrees, even those of us without ADHD.

We’ve all had the experience of listening to a speaker or lecturer - perhaps as part of one’s job - and fighting ourselves to 'stay with' and take in the message.

Most of us will ultimately be able to do so (perhaps with a boost of caffeine!), while others cannot. For those in the latter group, they are simply incapable of overriding that feeling of having ‘checked out.’

There are of course consequences to such. Many kids while school feel the same way on daily basis.

The most important thing a parent can do in order to determine whether their child may have ADHD (or even symptoms) is a thorough Educational and Neuropsychological evaluation. This serves several purposes:

• To confirm or disconfirm a diagnosis.

• To clarify what other factors may be affecting the child (e.g., learning disabilities, anxiety).

• Resulting recommendations, which allows for a pathway to services, be they in school, pursued privately, or both.

Every child deserves the best possible education available to them and to feel a sense of mastery, competence and confidence along the way.

An Educational/Neuropsychological evaluation is the first and a critical step to allowing his to happen and for your child to flourish..

I welcome your call and am happy to discuss any questions you might have about getting your child tested.