Moving Toward a Strength Based Diagnosis of ADD/ADHD
ADD Coach and fellow ADD blogger Tara McGillicuddy just blogged about the fact that she is confused that Dr. Hallowell and myself have discussed a ’strength based diagnosis’ for ADD (we shared this in a special report called: Find the Genius in ADD). She expresses confusion that we’re sharing this message with the general public, when this is a message that needs to get to doctors and health care providers who actually do the diagnosing. She feels we should have focused on the ’strength based approach’ rather than a ’strength based diagnosis’(Visit Tara’s blog to read her article).
In short - I agree.
…And I do spend a lot of time teaching other doctors about a strength based approach to ADD/ADHD (and medical students, and psychiatric/pediatric residents, and educators, and school principals, and social workers, etc.).
The idea of a ’strength based diagnosis’ relates to the evolution that we want to see in the field of ADD/ADHD. In our report, we discuss the fact that ADD used to be a moral diagnosis (and unfortunately still is in some circles), and then it became a medical diagnosis. Now, we want that evolution to continue toward the ’strength based diagnosis’.
Why would we share this message with the consumers of health care, rather than the providers?
Firstly - we’re sharing it with everyone who will listen 
Secondly, the reality is that as more patients go to their doctors, psychologists, educators, etc. and request a different approach - the more likely doctors are going to listen and pay attention (though we all know that doesn’t always happen… but change has to start somewhere).
Since we released our special report, our Unwrapping The Gift of ADD blog has had numerous comments, and we’ve received numerous emails - of people who have shared this information with their school, their psychologist and their doctor. This suggests that the information is getting into the right hands.
Most importantly - it is helping people to realize that the strength based approach is the best one.
Also, this is just one aspect of our report. In our report, we focus on the gifts of ADD/ADHD, and the fact that there can be genius in the ADD/ADHD mind.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments.
Dr. Kenny
p.s. If you want to read the report that Tara was referring to - please visit: Find The Genius in ADD.
p.p.s. Do you have a thought about this issue? If so, please enter a comment below:
=================================================
Written by Dr. Kenny Handelman - The ADHD Doctor
To find get a FREE special report on ADD/ADHD Medication, visit: Medication Mastery
==================================================
Email this post to a friend:
April 16th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I am the current President of the Board of Directors for Attention Deficit Disorder Resources (http://www.addresources.org ). Our organization sent the information out to our membership including our Professional Advisory Board. I assure that we have numerous members who do diagnose and work with those with ADD/ADHD. I forwarded the information to my national professional organization (National Association of School Nurses). The information will filter to the physicians perhaps slowly but they will learn about the work.
As a former school nurse working with students with ADD they were usually some of my favorite kids. There were so many positives about them. Thank you for focusing on the positive! It’s overdue.
April 28th, 2008 at 1:59 am
Hi,
The book ‘ Genius’ by George Lynn deals with the same theme
http://childspirit.com/stratsgenius.htm
Allan