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Have you ever watched an adult fly into a towering rage over something that seemed trivial to you? Why did they react that way? The person might have ADD/ADHD and deficient emotional self-regulation. A recent study suggests that this problem may be inherited. Whole families can struggle with this.

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Emotional Control and Attention Deficit Disorder

If you don't get the newsletter, please check out the Past Issues section for the September 7, 2011 issue. If you go to the link for the slides by Dr. Russell Barkley, let us know what you think.

I'm not sure that I agree with his description of ADD. How about you?

Excellent article Connie. "Biology is not destiny." So true! Perhaps biology can be considered like a "canoe" that with much will, effort, and resilience can be paddled in different directions without being on any one "fixed" course for life.

Les, what a great analogy! I'll bet that you and I have switched courses a few times in our old canoes.

Once upon a time, I had a student who was extremely irritated with me because he was having difficulties with his math problems. He is a great young mathematician, but so impatient and emotional. This guy was ready to tantrum. I assured him that he had the skills. I reminded him that he had successfully completed all except for the last three problems easily. He was HOT and ready to boil! He went to work on the last three, looking at his previous work, and I kept a surreptitious eye on him. All of a sudden, he let out this exclamation of triumph. I went over to him and said, "Do you remember that feeling you had just before you let out that noise?" He got a sweet remembering smile on his face and nodded. Then, I told him, "If I had just told you the answer, I would have robbed you of that feeling. Don't let anybody take the joy of figuring out a hard problem away from you." Les, he really got it! He understood what I meant.

Oh tiny ah-hah moments that teachers love.

Sometimes this raging about looks like nurture, since you can see the parents yelling, and then watch the kids do the same thing. Long ago, I decided that it wasn't necessarily nurture. Genetics is a real part of life, and I think that it is more nature than nurture. It's good to see that research is catching up to my hypothesis.

Hey Connie,

I loved your article! I am very familiar everything mentioned in your article in having a child with special needs. Thanks for making parents aware.

Thanks for stopping by and posting. I always enjoy hearing from you.

What do you say to somebody who has had a major tantrum in front of you? Do you even acknowledge it?