Do people with ADHD have a “deficit” and a “disorder”? Or are they just different in some ways from people around them? In Distant Drums, Different Drummers, Barbara Ingersoll presents a more positive perspective on ADHD – one that stresses the value of individual differences. From this perspective, ADHD is a set of traits that has been passed from generation to generation because these traits were important for the survival of human beings over many thousands of years. The child with ADHD, with his penchant for novelty and exploration, his boundless energy, and his tendency to take risks, is seen as the descendant of a long line of adventurers and explorers stretching far back beyond the beginnings of recorded history. This view offers children and adolescents struggling with ADHD the opportunity to see themselves in a positive light and motivates them to face challenging problems.
© 1995
Audience: Adolescents/Teens, Parent, Professional