About ADHD

29 08, 2022

Motivation and ADHD: The Puzzle of Performance

By Diane Sottile PhD|2022-08-14T23:32:28+00:00August 29th, 2022|

Why is it that students with ADHD are highly focused on some tasks, while they are unable to complete or even start others? When students with ADHD need to complete a task, they often have difficulty with a number of executive functions: task initiation, planning and prioritizing, organization, focus, sustaining their efforts, and utilizing short-term working memory. But, in addition to these executive functions, they also have trouble with motivation. Feeling unmotivated is a major obstacle for those with ADHD, especially if the task is boring or uninteresting. The mystery for students with ADHD is exactly what, when, or how any particular event or [...]

30 09, 2020

Procrastination: A Fault Or A Strategy?

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-09-29T23:55:08+00:00September 30th, 2020|

Let’s admit it. We all procrastinate. Sometimes we put things off because we just don’t want to do them. Other times we have too much to do, so we avoid doing any of it. Procrastination in and of itself is not the problem. In fact, it could be our brains’ way of saying, “Whoa, put the brakes on here. You are doing too much”. But, for individuals with ADHD or executive function challenges, procrastination can become pervasive. In fact, procrastination is extreme for those with ADHD and executive function deficits. This behavior of putting things off is related to our ability to [...]

22 02, 2020

25 Facts About ADHD in Students That Parents Should Know

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-02-28T04:15:47+00:00February 22nd, 2020|

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V), there are three types of ADHD: predominantly inattentive type (formerly known as ADD); predominantly hyperactive-inattentive type; combined type In order for a person to be diagnosed with ADHD, very specific criterion must be met. The criteria is listed here. The prevalence of ADHD has increased in recent years: A 2016 study show 6.1 million children in the US have been diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD is not a boy only disorder: 1 in 7 boys are diagnosed and 1 in 11 [...]

23 03, 2019

What Is The Difference Between ADHD and Executive Function Deficits?

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-02-23T16:43:13+00:00March 23rd, 2019|

As an ADHD and Executive Function coach, I am often asked to explain the difference between ADHD and executive function deficits. It is important to note that ADHD, which stands for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, is a defined disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5thEdition (“DSM-5). The DSM-5 is used by health care practitioners to diagnose a variety of mental disorders. The DSM-5 provides a list of symptoms and criteria that practitioners can use to provide an accurate diagnosis and to determine the appropriate treatment. Although problems with executive function are often termed as Executive Function Disorder, it [...]

9 06, 2018

The “Puzzle” of ADHD

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-02-25T02:45:19+00:00June 9th, 2018|

I love jigsaw puzzles. The 1,000 piece or more kind. The harder the puzzle, the better. Right now, I am working on a puzzle where the mountains and the sky are only slightly different in color. All the pieces look the same. There are no distinguishing colors or pictures that would allow me to look at a piece and say, “it fits there”. Instead, I have to resort to looking at each shape, and trying to find another piece that will interlock with it. This puzzle is so frustrating. I have many times said, “I give up”. Yet I go back again and [...]

17 02, 2016

ADHD and Girls: It’s not only about boys

By Diane Sottile PhD|2020-02-25T02:52:31+00:00February 17th, 2016|

ADHD is often thought of as a boys’ disorder. While the percentage of boys who are diagnosed with ADHD is greater than for girls, it is by no means a disorder only for boys. In December 2015, The Journal Of Clinical Psychiatry published a study on the prevalence of ADHD [1] The researchers in this study found a 43% increase in the prevalence in all children from 2003 to 2011. Notably the prevalence of ADHD in girls was the most dramatic – an increase of 55% from 4.7% to 7.3%. Why then do we often still consider ADHD for [...]