BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Attention Deficit Disorder Finding Hope for Kids with ADD

When you find out that your child has Attention Deficit Disorder, for many people there will be a grieving stage. Then, find the hope. Look at the troublesome traits of ADD and figure out ways to use them in a positive manner. There is hope for kids who are growing into adulthood with ADD.

Finding Hope for Kids with ADD

Parents who know ADD from the inside have a few tricks up their sleeves that they can convey to their kids.

Hi Connie,

From your experience, what are some of the careers and jobs that people with ADD can be good at? Thanks -

Careers that work for people with ADD are those that they deem interesting. This allows them to use their energy doing what they feel passionately about. It also gives them a chance to perseverate (taking something to the nth degree...not being able to let an idea or task go)for a good purpose.

Science, the legal field (if they can learn to organize), cooking, creative endeavors, writing, teaching (again, organization!), jobs that take them into nature and are exciting, and jobs with movement and novelty are the types of jobs where people with ADD can excel.

Hi Connie,

Does having ADD mean it is a lifetime 'condition' or does is calm down or go as a person gets older?

Thanks.

Hi Connie,

Another ADD question or two.

It seems that ADD leads to disorganisation (re your career answer above) - so as a young adult, if an ADD person had an assistant to help with the organising and such, can they be freed up to be more creative, productive, innovative, inventing etc. and so on?

Does an ADD person generally have the inclination to finish reading a book - or do they lose interest?

Thanks

The answer to the first question is, "Yes!" However, the assistant needs to work with the child on strategies, so that the child can learn organizational skills.

From my own perspective, I usually finish books.

Some people grow out of ADD and it doesn't affect their adult lives like it did their childhoods. Others have ADD for the span of their lives. Here is an article about that:

Why Some People Outgrow ADD

Thanks for asking. In the past, it was presumed that people just outgrow ADD. For some, this happens. For others, not so much.

Here is a great book for parents of kids with ADD/ADHD to read. I have a review on my website. The used book is available in hardcover from Amazon for a very reasonable price. Just follow the link in the article.

Superparenting for ADD-An Innovative Approach-Dr. Edward Hallowell

Ask your kids what they need to be successful. Listen to them and don't discount what they have to say. Sometimes we think that they know how to do a task, when they are actually struggling with it.