Internationally recognized expert on ADHD, Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D. says most of the confusion about this diagnosis occurs because the terms “attention deficit” and “hyperactivity” describe only the surface features of this challenge: these are just the tip of the iceberg: the symptoms are much broader and deeper than this.  Dr. Barkley goes on to suggest that the core challenge is actually the inability to stop and think before acting; even inconsistent focus involves inhibiting one’s response to other things go on around you.  We’ll explore some surprising aspects of these three features of the iceberg in the next chapter.

In chapter 3, we’ll see why even more misunderstandings occur because ADD/ADHD symptoms are quite often different in boys and girls and men and women.

Although at first glance, they add more confusion an already confusing situation, understanding your child’s executive functioning strengths and weaknesses can actually shed some light on the size of the iceberg (and challenges) hidden beneath the surface.  In turn, this understanding can lead to knowing how to help your child.  We’ll undertake this extremely enlightening information in chapter 4.

Finally, all the confusion is further exacerbated by language  and learning weaknesses commonly seen in children, teens, and adults with ADD/ADHD.  In chapter 7, I will try my best to help you understand why ADHD is not a learning disorder and why your ADHD child struggles with learning.  The rest of this e-book is devoted to helping you understand how you can help your child or student.