ADHD As A Difference In Cognition, Not A Disorder: Stephen Tonti at TEDxCMU 

You know you have ADHD when you can't focus on a video without going to the comments during the video.

"I have a hard time completing things that don't excite me" Story of my life. Hyperfocusing feels like a superpower though. When i'm in the zone I CANNOT fail

Teachers who understand ADHD are SO important!!!

Just got diagnosed with ADHD at 26 and I feel like my entire life makes sense now! I’m on a journey now to harness it and use it towards good. I’m happy to be apart of this groups of awesome people!

Damn, this guy got lucky with concerned teachers and involved parents.

the first time I've felt confident about my ADHD... *thanks for this video*

I am happy that his parents could afford all of those sports & hobbies for him. This is not the case for many, many youngsters.

I’m a teacher with ADHD and it makes me better at my job. I have more energy, I’m super creative, I know what it’s like to be a kid with ADHD trying to learn so I know how to teach and support kids that are attention different 😊

I have been labeled, “jack of all trades and master of none”

"Something has to grab my attention, peak my curiosity, and then I can hyper-focus. This is a good thing and a bad thing. It's a bad thing because I have a hard time completing things that don't excite me." Yep!

I am a 21 year old poet, nursing student, PCT in a psych hospital with a history in culinary arts, painting, pottery and childcare, who also studies Korean, goes hiking, rock climbing, marathon running, contra dancing, biking and attends two separate youth groups on week nights. Got diagnosed with ADHD last month. Thanks for speaking my thoughts to the world! I'm glad I found this video!

I’m going to put this nicely: l have ADHD, I’m thirteen and watching this on my old iPad, with my ADHD,I can use my imagination and different way of thinking to bend the world to my will, but only when I’m on my medication, the medication tones down my ADHD enough to be able to use some of my symptoms as perks. I don’t know about others but the medication tones my severe ADHD enough that I can manage it and actually function as a human being.

Just because you have a short attention span and you are this free spirited creative person doesn't mean you understand what the worst of this can be like. Having a bunch of "skills" isn't so great anymore when you have hundreds of unfinished projects. You can clearly see in the comment section those who actually have this problem. Yeah, there are some cool and admittedly glorified perks to ADHD but this shit is not fun when you are an adult and can't get your life under control.

One word, medication. My life was falling apart no matter what I did. I tried everything, sleeping right, therapy, eating right, working out, meditation. You name it I tried it Once I got meds it was like a light was flicked on and I could finally bring all those things together. ❤️❤️❤️ love all my adhd brothers and sisters.

I have ADHD and I couldn't concentrate on this guy's talk for very long and gave up before the end. It is too painful for me to hear about what a great time he had growing up thanks to what incredibly amazing parents and teachers he had. I'm 40 and only found out that I have adhd last year after self-diagnosis. I have had a lifetime filled with suffering, pain, loneliness and deep and long-lasting, chronic depression. I feel broken by life. I have no confidence and no self belief and have been left traumatised by my life experiences. It is too painful for me to hear of a person like this who had all the support in the world and as a result has come out thriving in life.

Adhd for me has done nothing but hold me back and make life harder. I don't hate myself or want to give up because of it but it's not just a different way of thinking. This is a privileged guy that had a lot of support and was luck enough to be nurtured and helped. These are always the example of someone who has ADHD but grew up with a lot of luck when it came to treating it young. Many many people didn't have that luck and struggle even trying to do the things they love or to take care of basic needs. I'm so frustrated that the only people I tend to see are the success stories that fail to explain that many people still suffer and struggle and can't match their success because they never had and still don't have the support they did.

I have ADHD and I'm playing this video by 1.5 speed (to not loose focus, you know)

"I can read a 500-page novel that I love much faster than a one page article I don't care for" Damn, that's my entire life. I just got diagnosed a couple days ago haha Edit: 3 years later and it turns out I can read fine when I have ADHD meds. I have a master's degree now lmao

My mom is a phychologist and since I was 3 years old or so she suspected I had ADHD. She was understanding but she also worried a lot because I just couldn't focus at school. My kindergarden teacher told her it was fine, I couldn't pay too much attention but I was a smart kid. She supported me a lot through the years, even now that I'm in college. And I couldn't be more thankful, I just wouldn't be here without her and many other teachers that were supportive and understanding, I was really lucky to have them.

When I was70, a psychiatrist diagnosed me with ADD (not hyperactive). He prescribed a med to help me focus. After a couple weeks I had to quit taking it because it made me super focused - to the point of ignoring every single other thing. It was then that I realized through my work history my ADD was a plus: I could concentrate well on more than one thing at a time. This resulted in promotions and raises. ADD isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Man. Must be nice to have had such financially capable parents as to support so many momentary obsessions. I remember trying to do that, and my parents just got tired of me tossing new hobbies and activities aside.

I was diagnosed at 12 by a school psychologist who chose to speak to my mother instead of explaining what ADHD was to me. My parent was not supportive. When the psychologist told her that my IQ showed that I should be"making As in school with very little effort" instead of just passing with Cs she told me that he had confirmed that it was my fault for not living up to my potential. I didn't even know that it was a disorder or that there were others like me until,at age 50, I saw a commercial for Adderall. After learning that my self esteem was healed and I was able to fix so many things in my life that I had accepted as frustrating character flaws because I learned to question my perceptions instead of my judgment. I try to explain my thought process to others by saying that they see life as a series of individual pictures to be viewed one at a time but I see a poster on which every thing is relevant to eachother at once.

“We are Attention Different, not Attention Deficit.” 🤯 Dude this single quote just made me reevaluate my entire view on my ADHD and my frustrations with myself. God bless you fam 😭💜

I know I'm capable of incredible things. ADHD made that possible but also destroys my capacity to complete tasks involved getting those done. Anxiety, ADHD, Dyslexia..... got medicated finally at 31. It really does help. But only if I can get myself in the right frame of mind. I've found over the years, that the old adage "like riding a bike" rings true with the things I've learned. I reach back through the rolidex in my mind and pull the needed skill when necessary. But I never stick with it. Trying to find my true interest has always been a difficult task. If you ever need to verify your adhd with yourself. Tally up what you have learned, see how that measures up to "normal" people. Pretty good indicator is being a "jack/jill of all trades". Everyone I know that shares add/adhd, has this in common. Over contain a wealth of knowledge they rarely utilize. I do think that my biggest hold back from doing things I enjoy, is financial. Normal folks say something like "well go get a good job and make the money to support your hobby". They really don't get it. The mundane tasks involved with doing so make it incredibly difficult. Don't get the wrong idea, I've held jobs for long stretches. But that's just it. They are jobs, tasks, chores.... nothing that gets me excited. It's taken me 20 minutes to write this because I keep going back and forth. At first I was excited to share with other who might benefit. Now it's becoming a chore. So I'm probably gonna stop now 🙃 BTW below was typed before the 2nd half of what I wrote above. Fun like that is adhd in a nutshell Skills I've developed from adhd hyperfocusing. These are self taught or learned from my pops: Welding and fabrication Automotive diagnostic and repair ATV repair Construction Machining and precision engineering Electrical engineering Structural engineering Scale model building Computer sciences Phone repair HVAC diagnostics and repair Mental health psychology in adolescent children Paint and auto body .........lots more In relation to jobs offering educational resources: Plastics engineering Hydraulic machinery operation and repair Associate management Team leader skillset Base medical understanding and principles Mental health and depression understanding, in relation to aggression and addiction principles. Customer service and sales (highest rated associate in that company😄) Food and welfare assistance Low income housing guide Lots more here too, just getting bored of this now 😅 ADHD is a curse sometimes, but it's blessing too. Use it to your advantage from time to time. Hope you have a great day!

When I was only 7, my mom tried so hard to get me to focus while tutoring me. She then suggested I start walking while studying. It worked for me through 22 years of education without needing any ADHD medications. I managed to get through graduate and medical school. You have it in you too, you just need to find the way in which you learn best! Great video!

My whole life I've thought ADHD was when a person wasn't able to focus on almost anything. I had no idea that that isn't the case, so when I was diagnosed with ADHD last week, I was shocked. There is such a big misunderstanding when it comes to ADHD and it's honestly sad

I think I lost my ability to hyperfocus. I can't seem to focus on anything anymore and nothing excites me... All these sucsess adhd stories makes me wonder how they found their passion... I just like sleeping and daydreaming and all the emotions real life brings is just to overwelming...

Adam’s story made me tear up! It’s so sad how so many of us with ADHD have been misunderstood. I wholeheartedly agree we need to embrace neurodiversity!

I'm hyperfocused on the terrible sound quality of his mike.

I found out I had add over the summer, and today was my first time learning on my medication. I got spanish verb conjugations, something i've been struggling with for 2 years, almost instantaneously! I swear this is the happiest day of my life! :D (im 13)

I’m 56 now. Was on riddilan as a child. Wish my parents and school could have seen this when I was 6. You nailed ADHD perfectly... sharing this With all my friends so they can understand me better thank you so so much

Hands down the best talk on ADHD. Everything was phrased perfectly. Thank you for this.

I take Concerta and my life is better for it. When I was younger I did feel like a different person on my medication, like I was less social and quieter. But I also understood the overwhelming positives of taking it. Before the medication, I couldn’t focus enough to even learn how to read, but afterwards, I fell in love with reading and it allowed me to escape to new worlds and places. Yes, it sucks to feel like apart of who you are needs to be “fixed”. But when I am not on my medication, I feel worse because no matter how hard I try, I cannot focus and get anything done. Time passes by and my to do list has not changed. It is frustrating to feel like your mind is working against you. Also on my medication it helps with my emotional regulation, so I wouldn’t act out impulsively. I feel in control and at ease when I am on my medication. I am empowered when I can do both things I love and get things done like ironing and dishes. Everyone has different experiences with side effects, so I am only speaking for myself. For myself, I want to accept who I am with ADHD, but also not let that stand in my way from managing my life. It can be hard to decipher what parts of my personality are my ADHD and what part is me. I also need to reassure myself that no matter what struggles, I can make the most of my life. But I think that medication plays an important part in that equation. I don’t want to spend most of my day applying strategies to force my brain to focus (when it is impossible), just so I don’t take medication. For me, that is like not wearing my glasses, but if I squint enough and sit close to the board in class, I can make sense of enough through the blur that I can get by. Also, medication is only part of your treatment, you need to have regular therapy, organizational strategies, exercise, to do lists and much more. So to close out this rant, I hope that people who take medication will follow my lead and not feel ashamed for it; and people who decide not to will not judge others who do. When I take medication, it’s like the fog has lifted and I can see clearly, so don’t shame people into living in the fog, just to please the fear and judgement of others. Thanks you for reading all this, it means a lot.

I wish I was in your position. I have been failing my classes since 6th grade. Every single year my teachers all say "He is incredibly smart and he knows the material..... he just doesn't do the homework." Its unfathomably frustrating to completely love a subject and work your hardest while being totally engaged only to fail because of the paperwork. Even when the teachers know that I have learned the material.SO what is the point of school then? If its not to learn is it just to do the paperwork? Is the sole purpose of our education system the classwork and homework? Not the information or education? I feel like i have been born into a system designed to be as difficult as possible twords ADHD. All I want to do is learn. Sorry for the rant.

I love the thought of it being 'attention different' and now listening to your amazing talk, I understand why I can complete sometimes seemingly complex tasks, while being unable to pay my bills on time, and why my home is cluttered with so many different craft activities, while I still get bored and get overwhelmed with trying to do anything because they clutter the house.

I wish I could like this 10 times!! It's heartbreaking to see people ingrained with the belief that something's wrong with them, instead of working from their strengths.

With my ADHD, my short term memory is getting worse the longer I live. Im unmedicated and when i try to focus on my schoolwork, its like i cant get a thought in my head related to the topic. In the middle of my hyper focus, i get the urge to run and bounce, which I do, because its a very very strong urge.

This is how I want people to see me. Not as someone that needs to change. Someone who is creative, intelligent, and free spirited. Yes, I have ADHD, but I'm not inhibited by the way my brain likes to think, and I'm not ashamed of the way I admire the things I find wonderful in the world around me. Nobody should have to feel like a 'defect'.

One person's obsession is another person's passion. Stephen is so lucky to have understanding parents and teachers.

So great to discover this talk, especially from my alma mater CMU. 🥰 I have been stating this premise for years: difference, not deficit. I took so many extra classes at CMU. I also dropped those overloads, due to my constant distractions of activity, much less the capacity to organize the overload of work. But I was always exploring outside the box. I did not have the same kind of parental support or economic resources as Stephen growing up.

people keep complaining about how fortunate he is. At the moment, my life is pretty crap because of adhd, but the way he talks about how it's not a defficit but something to be proud of gave me hope. I'll probably never be as successful as him, but it's made me see adhd in a new light and something I shoudn't be ashamed of.

I was strapped every day, when corporal punishment was popular in Schools (growing up) Every report card said "STANDING IN CLASS" but never listed 10 out of 20 students, just the words *STANDING IN CLASS* I was close to retirement when diagnosed. #ADHD I still can't sleep more than 4 hours, or sit still, or focus very long on something. But I can spot a hair highlight, a shiny object on the highway, at 60MPH passing by, filled a whole toolbox with lost tools from trucks on the highway. I have been an Engineer, Safety Manager, Auditor, Financial Claims Clerk, Teacher, Student, traveled the world, and I don't see things the way anyone else does, but I have good critical thinking skills, and the only time I can focus, is that quiet time at dawn, when all of you are still snoring quietly.

ADHD is being able to watch this video and remember nothing because you weren't really watching, if anybody was wondering.

Thank you, You have masterly put into words what I have been feeling for 10 years or so now. I would love to be apart of a movement to bring such an awakening to society.

"At least he's quiet now..." I just broke down crying.

I have ADHD and Gifted. I failed most of high school yet am working on independent neuroscience research (for fun) with accreditation from Harvard and Stanford. Alas, I was the "problem student" who was not expected to pass high school. School was not built for ADHD brains. Do not give up. And never listen to what those around you say, no matter how hurtful and demoralizing it may be. As of October of this year I will be starting my nursing program.

All the information I have had about ADHD came from scholars who may not have ADHD. I gained so much more understanding from this short clip of my foster child. Thank you

Omg. I am completely in awe. I'm 47 and i wad officially diagnosed yesterday. This video hit home so hard. Ty so much.

"Robin Williams, a poster child for someone with ADHD" - this neatly illustrates the high co-morbidity rate of anxiety and depression with ADHD. Medication helps.

THIS GUY IS ME!!! Hyperfocus is a curse and blessing. Learning how to harness it has been my struggle.

The SUPPORT in that room was tantalizing! I loved this view so much. Intellectual autonomy struck a chord with me as well as the Shakespearean sonnet. This video was so validating

The thing I'm most concerned about with my ADHD and possibly my children's ADHD, is the emotional strain it has put on them and on me. Getting stuck in an emotion that I can't regulate without help, or that my child can't overcome without a nap but can't nap with that level of distress already in full swing. It's the emotional volatility that I'm most worried about. If there's something that medicine or outside the box solutions can do to help with the rocky & intense emotions and difficult recovery from those sudden bursts, that's where the real difficulty and concern lies for me.

I was diagnosed with ADD when i was 7 or 8, then again when I was 37 and wanted to take a massage therapy college course that I was not accepted into because of my ADHD . I am now 59 and have worked at over 400 places, have 5 different degrees in different subjects, none of which I worked. Happy to hear there are so many like me.

I'm glad this guy is in a position where he can appreciate his ADHD and that the drawbacks don't affect him as much as the good parts. But I wish he'd recognize that not everyone can be in that situation, and passion alone isn't enough to succeed. Like, I am also in a very fortunate situation, but my passion is medicine. My parents figured I had ADD from when I was pretty young, but didn't get me to get formally diagnosed or medicated, even when it became a serious problem. I really want to be a doctor, but I'm not sure I'll be able to get into a medical school because I waited so long to pursue treatment. I have no clue how I'd make it through if I didn't have access to my medication. Different types of ADHD affect people differently, and it has different severities. Some people can do just fine if they choose the right field! But just going outside isn't enough for everyone.

I love that he shared just how amazing and interesting his life has been due to the supportive people around him. It reminds me that if I was born in a world where people with ADHD were supported as much as neurotypical people then my life would probably be as cool as this guy's has been and that I shouldn't blame myself for a lot of my short comings since my upbringing was much like his room mate's.

I can't like this enough! This was my early life, but I'm 51 and in the 70s and 80s we were not as aware and it was punishments for misbehaviour, laziness and daydreaming. Being told that I would never amount to anything. That I wasted my abilities. Thanks for this!

My ADHD is so terrible. I have all the co-existing disorders with it as well. OCD, anxiety, and depression. I learned to control those co-existing disorders but life has been a blur pretty much. Even when I was watching this video, I got bored with 20 seconds and started scrolling to read the comments while listening to the video at the same time and I was going to type something else, but I forgot. Fuck

He was so lucky to be born on a first develop country where teachers actually realize he had it on the first place,i myself have it as well and i know because I had to go to the doctor myself alone at 25 living in Mexico is not the best hope for someone like me my teachers actually called me stupid

Amazing talk...he has amazing parents and teachers and an inspiring lifestyle and mindset

Yo ... The look in his eyes when he said : "At least he's quiet now..." Been there. I am so grateful that you were able to have the courage to do this and just seeing this really helped me because I was on the edge of not being alive... Thank you so much...

This is so true. When we find something not interesting we procrastinate very bad. Now that I know that I have ADD and have been becoming more and more obsessed on finding wtf is up with our brains that blocks us from focusing and doing things regardless if it catches our attention or not. On top of that the poor memory we have. It gets me very mad that I forget very quick.

This speech makes my heart swell. I struggle with ADD and school and the mentioned passionate hyperfocus versus mundane impossibilities. Thank you so much for this.

Amen! I’m 76 and have been tested twice years ago and was labeled as ADD. I went to college about 4 yrs after High School and after being an architectural draftsman for three years and completed a 5 year course at LSU in 6 years. Go for it people….! Your worth the bit of extra work to break out the other side into your dream!

"Society must conform to us instead of us confirming to society"... brilliant way of putting it actually. Thank you.

I came here to read about people like me. It hurts when I tell someone I have ADD and they laugh at me. They say Im too pretty or smart but if you ask ADD, it doesn't care what I look like. It has really affected my entire life. I've had many jobs, cussed out more than a few people. It has gotten better over the years and I am going to the Dr. next month for a four hour test on my brain. I hope they have something that will change my life.

Thank God someone explained it. I cannot for the life of me do math but I am amazing at art. I hyper focus in visualization and zone out in calculation.

Sir when you listed all your titles and then introduced yourself I literally started crying because I just felt so understood

My brother went to Eagle Hill in the late 70s or early 80s, I seriously hope it's evolved since then...we rescued him and he turned out to be an amazing human being because of the person he already was and knowing his caring, loving Mom was there at a time of need. Love you Josh posh!

I just figured out yesterday that I have ADHD. I'm 23 years old. I live in France, and unlike the US, it's extremely badly diagnosed here. French physicians simply don't believe ADHD exists. I've even suffered abuse from psychologists that I was taken to for my "risk taking deviant tendencies" (stealing), which I now channel into more rewarding activities such as music and other forms of creation. I kept telling myself I was born strange. And I actually managed to cope with ADHD without knowing I have it. But now I know that I'm not alone. I know that I belong. And I'm going to be a musician. Nothing will stop me. To all those who have ADHD, let me tell you that although it's hell to have a radically different way of thinking in this stuck up, uneducated world, if you learn to channel your abilities, NOTHING can stop you from being extraordinary. Fight those that doubt you. Make your own rules. Show them how amazing you are. Never give up. You aren't alone. My feelings go out to you all.

Sad to see how simplistic this speech is. The condition is debilitating for many. He revels in the fact that his condition is not severe, and this thinking could impact others adversely. ADHD is grouped in with many other ailments unfortunately, and not properly understood.

WHAT A GREAT SPEAKER!! This has really helped evolve my perspective. Neurodiversity is so important!

this is the 4th video I've watched about ADHD and I have learned so much, everything that I was going through as a kid until now makes soooooo much more sense now. My goodness I am mind blown, I never went to therapy nor psychiatrist - because I was told "there's nothing wrong with you" (by a family member) VERBATIM, so I lived on thinking that way - in the midst I am still processing every thing and it's still difficult but since I am now learning about ADHD I understand it now. Although, I was not diagnosed by a doctor - every thing I have heard these speakers say is on point with me. I am going to a doctor to reassure myself. Thank you to every one who is supporting each other through this, it makes life brighter for me.

Funny man. I get hyper-focused too. I used to refer to it as my "short-term obsessions". Listening to him is so good. I finally feel better about myself. I'm so happy he went to a good school and had supportive parents. He's right. Those two factors have helped him avoid a lot of the mental health issues. And schools definitely need to adapt their teaching to accommodate young people with ADHD

This man deserves a medal. Our being able to do so many things confuses most people. They denigrate us and call us by derogatory names such as "know-alls" and they shun us, because we always know better, having done the research, but they don't live in here, so they will never really understand.

Stunned. I've never heard someone describe my own ADHD so accurately and beautifully. Truly inspiring.

I have shared this with my boys. The three of us have ADHD. My 10 year old is a budding actor and my mom started a Shakespeare festival. This talk really hits home for us.

I'm a 45 year old man and am just now beginning my journey of acceptance of ADHD because of talks and speakers like this one. I'm sure I'll be able to look back at this day (provided I remember) and know that this has helped me. Thank you for this talk Stephen and thank you Tedx for the platform.

I was absolutely terrible in high school, I could not pay attention and therefore my knowledge of the curriculum was next to nothing. I dropped out of school and got my GED because it was frustrating that I just could not focus or understand subjects. When I decided to give college a try later on, I talked to my doctor about trying ritalin for the first time in my life. I must be one of the lucky ones because it had no negative side effects on me, and concentration became a brand new thing for me. I now loved school, craved assignments and graduated with a masters in psychology. For me, ritalin really was a big help with helping me to pay attention and retain information.

Oh my God yes!!! I love this! My son suffers in school and this brought me so much clarity. Thank you!

ATTENTION DIFFERENCE --- we aren't broken, people who are only comfortable with ONE kind of cognition are the ones with BROKEN PERSPECTIVE. Saying we are lazy or not trying, when we don't have the tools we need, when they have already all the tools they need. Expecting that WE ALL HAVE TO do the things we are not interested in or are confused by, that just a little bit of effort and the smallest bit if character are required to accomplish anything that we are told to do, the way we are demanded to do it, and within the time frame that we are mandated --- all while those things are Mount Everest or impossible for us. This is the real problem. Society HAS to stop shoving us trapezoids into circular cubbyholes, and berating us and punishing us, when we don't fit. Telling us that we are choosing to not cooperate or take responsibility, when we literally cannot be or do what we are expected to be, or expected to do.

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was very young. By the age of 8 I had been on Adderall, Ridlin, Intuniv, and Concerta. The first three had very negative side effects and I was punished as a result for things out of my control. Concerta works well but I feel pushed down and controlled. This video was inspiring for me. This is a guy that knows how stuff. Now I'm going to finish the last two minutes of the video.

I was not so lucky. My school did not follow my 504. Instead of giving me extra time, allowing me to sit in front, or letting me test in a quieter room I was put in special education because they “didn’t have time” to accommodate me. Instead they sent me to the special ed class where the para did all my work for me. Most of my classmates were non-verbal and even unable to walk. We even had a separate lunch table. I got bullied severely and completely shut down. Letting the school know why I was struggling did far more harm than good. This happened just 15 years ago. Now at 23 I remember the handful of people who treated me like an intelligent human being who learned differently; that were more than happy to work around my little barriers to learning. They were the only ones that hadn’t seemed to totally give up on my ability to learn. I will be graduating nursing school this year with zero accommodations from my school.

for someone who had ADHD, i wanted to say thank you for making me feel special in a good way

I wish I didn't read the comments. Ppl with only adhd, low key bragging about their accomplishments. I just feel more of a failure. I'm 33 and I graduated university ten years ago. Being alive is my main achievement. Respect to those able to deal with themselves and keep going.

How to reply to someone who tells you ADHD is all in your head, you just need to focus your thoughts. If they wear glasses tell them they don't need them, they just need to focus more on what their looking at. Or go tell the person with hearing loss it's all in your head they just focus more on what their listening to... This usually puts what people with ADHD struggle with in a perspective others can understand.

I would love to hear this story from the view of "Adam". I was diagnosed with ADHD quite late in life although I had my suspicions for a while. As a result it feels like a burden more often than not.. but when I look at this TED talk I see someone who has made ADHD work for him since very early in life, someone with awesome self-confidence. I would love to see the story of someone who has struggled with the effects of ADHD for a time and found a way to turn it around.

ADHD means I am absolutely the best at everything no matter what, as long as it is completely irrelevant to regular life and has no productive value whatsoever

We did all that we could with our son who was diagnosed at four, he was very difficult and the Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, after testing him, diagnosed my son with ADHD with ODD. The medication was too much, so I refused to give it to him, instead, communication was there, always protected, I was his cheerleader and we allowed him to fulfill every obsession he ever had, and yes, he was in every support, and he excelled at this, especially swimming (competitions) and soccer (indoor/outdoor). Looking back, I worked with the teachers, and if not, I had my child taken from that class to another. There are brilliant teachers, we just need more of them and we do have to conform a child with ADHD is not broken, or damaged, or need fixing, again, that is someone's perspective on that child. Some children struggle worse than others but the support system in their lives is what matters the most.

Did anyone else watch this clip and have a "cha ching" moment? For those that genuinely have ADHD, do you ever answer the question, "So what do you do?" with, "Um, it's complicated." Maybe we should start a business and ride the temporary compulsion wave; go flat out on projects and then hand them on to the next person before we shelve it. We'd get a lot done...and even finished ;)

its sad that even for this educated drummer from CMU, ADHD is mostly about being too active and wild and not about Executive Functions. Time Perception. and Racing Toughs. also he does not get into even sharing his challenges. having physical pain when you are bored and have to do the repetitive tasks like homework or long-dead lines like a term paper.... ADHD is much more than this well intended fellow is glamorizing.

This is by far the best description of the problems we can face having ADHD ! I only realised what the heck was wrong with me in my mid 40’s when my some was diagnosed . And yep my 4 sisters still scoff at it . I’m 58 now and still struggle . 🙃

As someone with adhd, i love this. I had to restart it several times because i realized i wasnt listening all the way, but I love this. Thank you

Thank you. I struggle with ADHD so much. Work is difficult and being a father and a husband are so much more difficult. It feels good to have someone talk about it with a positive perspective.

This helps me understand my son more. Thank you for this talk.

Its really nice to read all those comments and perspectives. Find out about my adhd recently with 27. Its really frustrating not being able to talk about it. Im reading about it, understanding an entire life - of thinking Im lazy, I dont have will power, and people saying "its just paying more attention". But I cant share, cuz my family is always saying to me that now "im obsessive about ADHD, I think everything is because of ADHD, I see diseases everywhere" and "I think medication solves all". Anyone understands me about how this discover changes 360º my perspective about myself and thousands of situations I've been through in life. And how much treatment - meds and methods of organization means HOPE for me. Its sad to know that now I know so much about it, but probably I'll still live arround ignorance and steryotipes of everyone, specially the close ones

I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until my adulthood, but it all made sense when I could put a name to it and get medicated, but before that happened I tried ALL the things and I loved every bit of it. So happy to say that I can relate to the nerds, jocks, and outcasts. This speech was so empowering

I got so emotional during this video. When I can't focus on what they want me to, they try to think I am stupid. I've had a teacher say that I was never going to pass 7th grade. As if I am stupid? I play trumpet and I have for 3 years. I picked up a french horn and learned it in 2 days. And I'm stupid, right? Bless this man. At my age seeing this has probably set me on the path to real happiness.

He's talking about the common MISdiagnosis of ADHD of gifted people and the frustration gifted people experience when they are understimulated. Gifted people are multi-talented and very passionate. But not true that all of those actually with ADHD are like this...

I first watched this about 5 years ago as a teenager pre ADHD diagnosis. Its very interesting watching this now at 22 with an official diagnosis, using medication and having a whole heck of a lot more knowledgeable and understanding about my brain.

This is truly inspiring. Everyone who has or suspects they have ADHD should watch this. Use your ADHD as your super power!