People often make assumptions about those with attention deficit hyperactive disorder, but they’re wrong, according to an expert on the ADHD.
Dan Duncan, a life coach from a B.C. interior ADHD clinic, said people with the disorder can perform as well as anyone else. However, parents, health professionals and those who have the disorder need to come up with strategies to treat and manage it.
“We have to be able to navigate life the way it fits our brain rather than fighting against that,” said Duncan, who was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. “That’s what strategies are. Strategies are for coming up with ways to accomplish the outcome your way rather than the usually prescribed way.”
He spoke to a group of parents, teachers and some who have ADHD at the High River Christian Reformed Church on March 30. Duncan will be back in High River again on May 27 for a second, longer seminar.
ADHD is a nuerodevelopmental disorder. The first symptoms emerge in childhood and can continue into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviours or be overly active.
Duncan likened a person with ADHD to someone who has been asked to cut a log with a handsaw, while everyone else uses a chain saw. They can still get the job done, but they don’t have the same tools as everyone else and usually end up working harder to complete the same task. Often, Duncan added, they can be conceived as lazy because they don’t have the same level of production.
He said random screening of children reveals about six per cent would qualify as having ADHD. For adults, this number is closer to 4.5 per cent. Duncan said ADHD doesn’t go away, but people can become better at managing it. In most cases, he said people tailor their world to suit them when they become adults.
It should be treated, said Duncan, because the potential negative outcomes are very real. According to Duncan, people with ADHD are three times more likely to abuse alcohol or be arrested; they’re 4.5 times more likely to get an STD or cause a car accident; they’re 9.5 times more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy; and they’re 17 times more likely to experience generalized anxiety.
“You do have to treat it, you can’t just put up with it,” he said.
Treatments include medication, therapy and psychosocial treatments and coaching.
However, a one-size fits all approach won’t work. Duncan said treatments should be moulded by doctors and professionals for each person.
He said medication is often the most effective because it supports brain function.
Coaching, as done by Duncan, involves finding individualized approaches to help create strategies and tools to address the deficits people face.
He said it is important to accommodate children with ADHD for how they best learn.
Sometimes scheduling 20 minutes of work, followed by a 10-minute break is helpful. Duncan said it’s good for a child with ADHD to move on once they have mastered a skill.
“Repetition helps, but not marathon repetition,” he said.
Meanwhile, consequences don’t always work, said Duncan, but a reward-based system can be effective.
Duncan came to High River at the invitation of an MD of Foothills resident who wants to help people like her who have been diagnosed with ADHD.
Rachel Nauta reached out to Duncan to speak in High River to help families and individuals.
Nauta said she attended one of Duncan’s seminars and found it helpful to understand the disorder and learn ways to manage it.
She was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult 10 years ago. Nauta said she had a hard time finding resources close to home to help, particularly doctors who treat adults.
“I had quite a lot of struggles trying to find local experts and I have gone to anything I could in these last 10 years,” she said.
Nauta said she feels women and girls are often missed in the diagnosis process, and are often misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression.
For Nauta, being diagnosed with ADHD was a huge relief.
“I think the shift happened in that instead of fighting this battle inside of me, I was able to understand that I could focus my energy on figuring out strategies for ADHD rather than eating up my own character,” she said.
Duncan’s May 27 seminar runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Pre-registration at is required. For registration fees and more information, visit at www.adhdinsideout.com
