Skip to main content

Interest-Based” versus “Importance-Based” Nervous Systems :: ADHD Spotlight

" “Interest-Based” versus “Importance-Based” Nervous Systems I have an interesting new twist on ADHD. For some time I’ve been dissatisfied with the diagnostic term “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.” The problem in ADHD is not a deficit of attention. Patients with ADHD often can pay sustained attention to something that interests them, such as a Washington Redskins game. They just can’t pay attention to something that should interest them, but doesn’t– like their business expense reports. William W. Dobson, MD, has suggested a fresh way of thinking about the attention problems of people with ADHD. I’ve been seeing and enjoying Dr. Dodson’s articles for years. He has abundant clinical experience with patients with ADHD, and he is good at conveying clearcut practical advice. His November, 2006 article, Real World Office Management of ADHD in ADults, is available on line at www.psychiatrictimes.com Dr. Dobson points out that most people have an “importance-based” attention span. If something is important, they pay attention to it, however reluctantly. Knowing that it is important helps them stay organized and productive. In contrast, persons with ADHD have an “interest-based” attention span. They pay attention if they’re interested. If not, they don’t — no matter how “important” the issue or topic is. The person with ADHD may know fully well that a topic is important, but that doesn’t help him or her get the job done. What helps the ADHD patient focus, in addition to interest, are novelty, challenge, and a sense of urgency brought on by a tight deadline or impending disaster. Under those circumstances they can produce. That often produces an unhappy, scattered life style which the patient endures and which other people criticize. Dobson emphasizes in his article that patients with ADHD need medication. That’s nothing new. What is refreshing is his insistence that they need help using their ”interest- based” nervous system to accomplish more. One little technique Dobson suggests to adult ADHD patients is that they organize their life by using deadlines and colors."

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Insulin Resistance- cause of ADD, diabetes, narcolepsy, etc etc

Insulin Resistance Insulin Resistance Have you been diagnosed with clinical depression? Heart disease? Type II, or adult, diabetes? Narcolepsy? Are you, or do you think you might be, an alcoholic? Do you gain weight around your middle in spite of faithfully dieting? Are you unable to lose weight? Does your child have ADHD? If you have any one of these symptoms, I wrote this article for you. Believe it or not, the same thing can cause all of the above symptoms. I am not a medical professional. I am not a nutritionist. The conclusions I have drawn from my own experience and observations are not rocket science. A diagnosis of clinical depression is as ordinary as the common cold today. Prescriptions for Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, etc., are written every day. Genuine clinical depression is a very serious condition caused by serotonin levels in the brain. I am not certain, however, that every diagnosis of depression is the real thing. My guess is that about 10 percent of the people taking
5 comments
Read more

Could Narcolepsy be caused by gluten? :: Kitchen Table Hypothesis

Kitchen Table Hypothesis from www.zombieinstitute.net - Heidi's new site It's commonly known that a severe allergy to peanuts can cause death within minutes. What if there were an allergy that were delayed for hours and caused people to fall asleep instead? That is what I believe is happening in people with Narcolepsy. Celiac disease is an allergy to gliadin, a specific gluten protein found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye. In celiac disease the IgA antigliadin antibody is produced after ingestion of gluten. It attacks the gluten, but also mistakenly binds to and creates an immune reaction in the cells of the small intestine causing severe damage. There is another form of gluten intolerance, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, in which the IgA antigliadin bind to proteins in the skin, causing blisters, itching and pain. This can occur without any signs of intestinal damage. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a similar autoimmune reaction to gliadin, however it usually involves the
19 comments
Read more

Blue-blocking Glasses To Improve Sleep And ADHD Symptoms Developed

Blue-blocking Glasses To Improve Sleep And ADHD Symptoms Developed Scientists at John Carroll University, working in its Lighting Innovations Institute, have developed an affordable accessory that appears to reduce the symptoms of ADHD. Their discovery also has also been shown to improve sleep patterns among people who have difficulty falling asleep. The John Carroll researchers have created glasses designed to block blue light, therefore altering a person's circadian rhythm, which leads to improvement in ADHD symptoms and sleep disorders. […] How the Glasses Work The individual puts on the glasses a couple of hours ahead of bedtime, advancing the circadian rhythm. The special glasses block the blue rays that cause a delay in the start of the flow of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Normally, melatonin flow doesn't begin until after the individual goes into darkness. Studies indicate that promoting the earlier release of melatonin results in a marked decline of ADHD symptoms. Bett
Post a Comment
Read more