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When we think of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), we commonly think of kids who cannot focus their attention on anything for any length of time, or the child who can’t seem to sit still, keep their hands to themselves, and won’t stop talking (or asking questions). Conversely, some parents will say "My kid can’t have ADHD, they can focus on video games for hours on end.” According to experts in the field, this is an inaccurate characterization of what ADHD is.
The reality is that ADHD is NOT about the inability to focus, it’s about selective focus – kids with ADHD can focus on things they find interesting, intriguing, unusual or different, but their brains struggle with maintaining focus on things they may need to attend to, but which they find boring or (in their perception) useless. It is important to note here that this is not a matter of choice on the child’s part. This is a brain “disorder” that interferes to various degrees with daily functioning and development (nimh.nih.gov).
Ryan Wexelblatt, LCSW, an expert in child ADHD studies and treatment has identified ten often-overlooked symptoms of ADHD, particularly seen in boys. Today’s note shares these ten symptoms and looks at how they apply to youth sports settings:
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Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria – According to ADDitudemag.com, RSD is characterized by intense mood shifts triggered by a distinct episode, typically one of the following: a) rejection - the real or perceived withdrawal of love, approval, or respect, b) teasing, c) criticism, no matter how constructive, and d) persistent self-criticism or negative self-talk prompted by a real or perceived failure. If you suspect that an athlete is experiencing RSD (avoiding eye contact, looking as if they are about to cry, acting sullen are all signs), give feedback one-on-one rather than in public. Use the “Sandwich Approach” covered in Play Like a Champion training. Deliver the feedback side-to-side rather than stand eye-to-eye.
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Weak Episodic Memory – as a parent or coach, if you find yourself constantly uttering, “How many times do I have to tell you…” and, “We’ve gone over this a thousand times,” you’re likely dealing with an athlete with poor episodic memory - difficulty remembering past experiences and the emotions associated with those past experiences. Kids with weak episodic memory often respond with, “I don’t remember…”, and they honestly don’t. Asking questions with concern and compassion, “What did you do the last time…”, and “Can you remember how it felt…?”, and guided journaling can be effective tools to strengthen episodic memory.
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Inconsistent Situational Awareness – situational awareness is how we take different pieces of information from our environment, put them together as a whole, and make meaning from them. For example, most baseball players with a few years of experience in the game would know that with bases loaded and two outs, you’ve got a play at any base. The kid with inconsistent situational awareness may be thinking to him/herself, “I’ve got to throw the batter out at first to end the inning.” Checking for understanding can be useful here – “Listen up everybody… we’ve got an out at any base… Jerry, did you get that?”
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Difficulty with Self-Directed talk -- We all have an internal dialog in our heads that we use to talk to ourselves, a “brain coach” as Wexelblatt calls it. He says that in people with ADHD, the volume of their brain coach is turned down, making it more difficult to pay attention. Real-time reminders as well as regular practice of positive self-talk can serve to increase the volume, “Sandy, I need you to keep telling yourself that you got this. Give it a try.”
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Difficulty with Unexpected Change – as a parent or parent/coach, if you’ve ever found it difficult to get your kid to shut off the videogames and start their homework, that difficulty comes from the challenge of moving from a preferred task to a non-preferred task without time to prepare. That challenge is exacerbated by ADHD. Giving advance notice or finding ways to make the non-preferred task more “fun” or challenging can ease the transition.
The remaining five overlooked symptoms include: 6) Hyper-focusing on Things That Are Interesting and Difficulty Sustaining Attention on Things That Are Not, 7) Poor Future Thinking Skills, 8) Difficulty Sensing the Passage of Time, 9) Poor Perspective Taking Skills, and 10) Trouble Putting Problem Size in a Relevant Context. These additional symptoms along with the ones above are described in a handout you can access here. [You can also view the original article and video referenced above via additudemag.com by clicking here: ADHD in Boys: 10 Common Signs & Symptoms.]
While the above article tends to focus on boys, these overlooked symptoms of ADHD are not exclusive to boys. Find out more about the challenges of diagnosing ADHD in girls and young women in ADDitudemag.com articles available at these links:
It's also important to realize that positive reinforcement is critical to helping children and young athletes with ADHD learn and grow. Find out what works here: ADHD in Children: Signs, Challenges & Help with Positive Reinforcement.
Take the time to learn about the symptoms listed above and how your child might benefit from a better understanding of these areas in the youth sports setting. Consider how you can use these tips to improve your child's youth sports experience, or share them with your coach to help them better facilitate growth on and off the field of play.
The note above comes courtesy Bill Matthews, a licensed professional counselor and mental health consultant with experience in areas of both ADHD assessments and sports psychology.
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