Thinking differently = trouble

Presentation at Bristol MIND March 2012

ADHD, ADD,Dyslexia, Autism etc Developmental disorder or some kind of gift?

We know they cause problems but we dont know if they are gifts in themselves.

Orchid Genes

Stress and vulnerability: the traditional view

Our view: maybe the graph actually just talks about negative stress??

And maybe there is a whole missing part!!

Row 1 Row 2 Row 3 Row 40

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Column 1

Anxiety and performance in tasks: The Yerkes-Dodson Curve

Maybe it’s different in ADHD?

You- before and after, diagram 1

Apparently struggling person, after treatment and help, to a much more content, well adjusted person. = Often seen in clinic

You- before and after- diagram 2

Apparently struggling person, to someone who not only adjusts, but appears to totally take off!= is sometimes seen in clinic. But not much research to explain it so far.

What’s going on?Born with it?

Is positive variant ADHD the same genetic root as the negative variant?

Developed it?Does PV-ADHD arise because people develop skill as a result of over-

compensating against long-term disability?

Freed it up?Maybe treating the negative variant ADHD helps reveal the positive

variant sides without the bad sides getting in the way?

Using it alongside something? Maybe it's just ADHD as normal but combines with some other talent to

generate an unusual adantage?

SO: In some cases, we notice some people have exceptional ability which is revealed through some kind of 'positive ADHD filter.'

What’s going on?• Born with it…

What’s going on?

• Developed it?

Wha’s going on?

Freed it up?

What’s going on?

• Uses it alongside some other skill?

e.g combining with creativity or high IQ

So how did we find out?

• We created a questionnaire based on ADHD criteria.

• Every item has a ‘kryptonite’ opposite strength.• The strength is either

• A) Directly related to the item e.g. distraction = love to notice what others don’t

• B) Compensating against the item e.g. forgetfulness- being super-organised.

And what did we find out? Examples of positive variant factors in ADHD.

• Inattention behaviours• 1d. Not giving close attention, or making careless mistakes

• 1s. Pays excess attention to abstract, creative or distal elements• 1s. Preoccupied with novel or rapid solutions. • 1s. Frequently shows good outcome using defiant methods.

• 1c. Checks things repeatedly, beyond completeness

• 2d. Trouble keeping attention on tasks or play

• 2s. Daydreams to find nuanced solutions to complex tasks• 2s. Readily influences more attentive people to take on his/her work

• 2c. Maintains focus by multi-tasking

…and 34 other separate positive variant factors.

Categories of ability

Deal: Thrive in Crisis

Heal: Driven to reduce complexity and waste

Zeal: Highly focussed on one thing

Feel: Very expressive, communicative

Steal: Able to borrow ideas from unexpected places

So we tested it on hamsters(= online survey, to the general

public).• Blinded purpose questionnaire

• 24 items

• 6 ADHD Screening questions

180 respondents over the past week

What do we know???

• ADHD behaviours are associated with positive variant behaviour traits even in undiagnosed people: this is a definite trend.

• More ADHD-ishness seems to predict even more positive behaviour in certain PVBs

• Up to a point- after this, maybe the ADHD negative sides are too strong to escape.

• So…..

• It definitely helps to have some ADHD

• Maybe too much causes problems?

• Maybe treating the ADHD bad sides can liberate more of positive variant behaviours??

• BUT……

..remember this?

So, about that battle...Maybe each side only tells half the story.

Neuroaffinity• Maybe people with ADHD have the potential to be highly specialised into narrow, defined skill

areas.

• Sometimes could these skills actually exceed those of other non-ADHD people?

Questions

a) Why isn't there more research on the types of work where people with ADHD could thrive?

b) Are there people with ADHD losing jobs, dropping out of school, who shouldn’t be?

Answers:

a) ADHD is a disability and there are only a few people who get to see this 'advantage' side of it. Maybe we need to look at getting more people to understand whether or where they could thrive.

b) Yes. And we need to help stop this problem.

Hmmm…. look here.

• Specialisterne.com

• Specialistpeople.com

• Autistic people are useful to the computer business ?

What would an ADHD company do?

Deal: Thrive in CrisisHeal: Driven to reduce complexity and

wasteZeal: Highly focussed on one thingFeel: Very expressive, communicativeSteal: Able to borrow ideas from

unexpected places

Let’s do it then.

Let’s form a founding team.

Let's make it about people with ADHD, driven by people with ADHD.

- Set duties, month to month.

- Report back, talk, get more duties.

- Develop the idea.

Ask yourself this:

• What skills or time do you have?

• What would you get out of it?

• What can you give or get?

• Money? Time? Space? Knowledge?

• Research?

• Contact: by email

• See you next month