Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) includes styles of thinking, feeling, and behavior that can interfere with a child’s ability to do well at home, with friends, and at school. Children with ADHD usually have a poor sense of time, are hyperactive, disorganized, impulsive, forgetful, and do not like to do things that require sustained mental effort (such as homework). For these and other ADHD problems, there are evidence-based assessments, treatments, and strategies that can help improve functioning dramatically. These are good things about having ADHD—the available aids.

But the best parts of ADHD are these:

• Great sense of humor
• Creative, out-of-the box thinking
• Innovative
• Intuitive
• Rarely bored
• Periods of hyperfocus—really paying close attention to the task at hand
• Empathic
• Fast thinker
• A whiz at starting projects
• Desire to be and do better

For ADHD diagnostic criteria see: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/diagnosis.html