Hyperfocus:
The Other Side of ADHD
 The
phrase “attention deficit disorder” is often
misunderstood because of the word “deficit.”
Most assume ADHD comes with a very short attention span.
While it’s true that ADHD may cause a lack of attention,
this is not the only symptom of ADHD. It’s more accurate
to say that a person with ADHD has an uncontrollable attention
span—either he cannot pay attention at all, or he
focuses too much on one particular task, disregarding everything
else. As thought patterns fluctuate between focus and lack
of focus, ADHD patients
often experience confusion or frustration.
Hyperfocus
is the term used to describe when an ADHD individual is
immersed in an activity he or she finds interesting. Many
parents are familiar with hyperfocus as it applies to TV
and video games. You may have heard parents ask, “Why
can my child sit for 12 hours in front of a computer game,
yet he is unable to do homework for 5 minutes?” Hyperfocus
answers this question. Since ADHD children cannot regulate
their attention, they will be engrossed by something they
find interesting while neglecting important areas of their
lives.
When
ADHD children or adults are in the zone of hyperfocus, they
may lose track of time and reality. Hours seem like minutes
and the outside world is distant to them. On the good side,
a list of ADHD positive characteristics
includes hyperfocus because it can be an asset for innovative
types like scientists, artists, writers, and inventors.
On the bad side, hyperfocus may lead to tight deadlines,
the tendency to be tardy, and misunderstandings in relationships.
The
ADHD child may need help in managing his or her tendency
to hyperfocus. First, parents should explain to the child
that hyperfocus is part of the ADHD condition, and it needs
to be regulated. Second, parents should be vigilant about
enforcing an ADHD child’s schedule and limiting the
amount of time spent on a video game or TV viewing. Bringing
children out of the hyperfocus trance is almost like waking
them out of a dream. Parents should find a natural break
in the activity (for example, the end of a TV show), and
give the child a moment to register that it’s time
to stop.
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