Dr. Russell Barkley and some other experts have determined, based on their research and observations, that ADHD is primarily a deficiency of inhibition, rather than attention span. This characterization makes sense to me. I’ve seen that my own children who have the condition are able to focus very well on their video games, movies, and anything that is entertaining or interesting to them. They certainly aren’t incapable of maintaining focus when they want to. However, when they are required to pay attention to something less stimulating, like spelling or fractions, they have trouble filtering out the other things that intrigue them more.
The Ability to Inhibit is Important
You might compare children with ADHD to driving a car with faulty brakes. These kids are not able to stop their activity level as it builds and gets out of control. They are not able to stop acting upon the random thoughts that enter their minds. They are not able to stop thinking about things that interest them, or stop acting out aggressively. Their main dysfunction seems to be the inability to restrain themselves or their thoughts.
Lack of Inhibition = Poor Control of Impulses
My stepdaughter Cassidy, who has been diagnosed with ADHD, has a problem with grabbing things. She will dive for a plate of cookies, reach across the table to get the food she wants, push people out of the way so that she can have the seat she wants in the van, and grab a toy when she realizes somebody else wants it. She will blurt out questions or comments, regardless of how obviously rude they might be. Often she will do something strange or mean, and almost seems surprised by her own actions. If I ask, “Why did you do that?” She won’t have an answer.
I remember a family reunion at the beach when Cassidy was eight, when she was playing in the sand with a couple of her much younger cousins. One was just a toddler in diapers, and from my distant vantage point on a towel I observed her playing beside this little guy. Suddenly, for no reason whatsoever, she pushed him forcefully down into the sand. The boy screamed in terror. My sister-in-law jumped up angrily. “Why did you push him? He’s much smaller than you! We don’t push people!” I was embarrassed, and Cassidy was timed-out on a towel by herself for quite some time afterwards. She had no explantion for what she had done. This is just another example of Cassidy’s inability to control her impulses. I am convinced that, above all else, this is her greatest challenge. She has “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,” but her attention span is not the real problem.
Why Do These Kids Have Trouble Controlling Impulses?
Our inhibitions reside in our brain’s frontal and prefrontal lobes. They keep us from being overwhelmed by sensory information, and also provide us with a reaction time during which we can think about the consequences of our actions. In ADHD, the frontal and prefrontal lobes are not functioning properly. We aren’t sure why this happens, exactly, but understanding that there is a physiological cause can help us view the behaviors with less frustration.
So should we call it IDHD? Too late. Perhaps whoever named the disorder was just a bit too “impulsive.”
Kristyn Crow is the author of this blog. Visit her website by clicking here. Some links on this blog may have been generated by outside sources are not necessarily endorsed by Kristyn Crow.
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