Episode 113 | Markers for ADHD

Dr. Brown and Eric Tivers began the 113th Episode of ADHD reWired by discussing "Cookies and Accountability". It was a great story about Dr. Brown and his wife and the temptations of a plate of chocolate chip cookies.

Eric got a lot of information out of Dr. Brown and this show will most likely call for a second or possibly third listen to get it all.

2 conditions under which those with ADHD do well.

• Interest
• Pressure

Most ADHD people have no problem focusing on tasks they are interested in or tasks for which they are afraid of consequences.

Dr. Brown went through the 6 different markers he looks for when diagnosing and during treatment of his ADHD patients.

• Activation
  • Can they get organized and/or get started?
  • How much are they procrastinating
• Attention / Focus
  • Can they focus or shift focus.
  • Do they get locked on to one thing and can't get back on the current task
• Alertness
  • Do they finish things in a reasonable amount of time?
    • Many people do not get the necessary amount of sleep
  • Are they able to sustain effort?
• Managing frustration & Emotions
  • Do their emotions come on too strong or too weak
    • Some of them get excited with "What ifs"
    • Obsessing about things they will do or buy at a later time.
  • Working Memory
    • Can they keep one thing in mind while doing something else?
      • No so much the long term but short term memory
    • Monitor and self-regulate actions
      • Do you come across to others as you intend to.

To contact Dr. Thomas Brown:

http://understood.org

http://drthomasebrown.com