Contributed by Edward Hallowell, M.D., co-author of Driven to Distraction and Answers to Distraction, with John Ratey, M.D., per Dr. Hallowell on July 29, 1995 at a conference in Southfield, Michigan.
FIFTY TIPS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ADD
1. Be sure of the diagnosis
2. Educate yourself
3. Coaching
4. Encouragement
5. External Structure
6. Color coding
7. Use pizzazz
8. Make a good choice in a significant other
9. Have a structured "blow-out" time
10. Recharge your batteries
11. Set up your environment to reward rather than deflate
12. Realize what ADD is NOT
13. Choose "good," helpful addictions such as vigorous exercise
14. Understand mood changes and ways to manage these
15. A cycle of "startle" is followed by mini-panic dealt with by obsessing and ruminating
16. Educate and involve others
17. Give up guilt over high-stimulus-seeking behavior
18. Learn to joke with yourself and others about your various symptoms
19. Plan scenarios to deal with the inevitable blahs
20. Expect depression after success
21. Learn shorthand ways of labeling
22. Acknowledge and anticipate the inevitable collapse of x% of projects
23. Embrace challenges
24. Make deadlines
25. Break down large tasks into small ones
26. Listen to feedback from trusted others
27. Prioritize and avoid procrastination
28. Schedule activities with friends
29. Use time-outs as with children
30. Learn how to advocate for yourself
31. Avoid premature closure
32. Find and join groups where you are liked, appreciated and understood
33. Don't stay too long where you aren't understood or appreciated
34. Accept fear of things going too well
35. Try to let successful moments last and be remembered
36. Remember that ADD usually includes a tendency to over-focus
37. Pay compliments
38. Set social deadlines
39. Notice how and where you work best
40. Know that it is OK to do two things at once
41. Do what you are good at
42. Leave time between engagements to gather your thoughts
43. Consider joining or starting a support group
44. Try to get rid of negativity
45. Don't feel chained to conventional ways of coping
46. Exercise vigorously and regularly
47. Keep a notepad
48. Read with a pen in hand
49. Pay attention to eliminating harmful additions
50. Try to help others with ADD
TEN TIPS ON STRUCTURING AND ORGANIZING THE LIFE OF THE CHILD WITH ADD
1. Write down the problem
2. Come up with specific remedies
3. Make use of concrete reminders like lists, schedules, etc.
4. Incentive plans and rewards
5. Give frequent feedback
6. Give responsibility whenever possible
7. Make copious use of praise and positive feedback
8. Consider using a coach or tutor for schoolwork
9. Provide the child with whatever devices he or she demonstrates can help
10. Always remember: negotiate, don't struggle.
FIFTY TIPS ON THE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT OF ADD
1. Make sure what you are dealing with really is ADD
2. Built your support
3. Know your limits
4. Ask the child what will help
5. Remember the emotional part of learning
6. ADD kids need structure
7. Post rules
8. Repeat and write down directions
9. Make frequent eye contact
10. Set the ADD child near your desk
11. Set limits, boundaries
12. Have as predictable a schedule as possible
13. Try to help the children make their own schedules
14. Eliminate, or reduce the frequency of timed tests
15. Allow for escape-valve outlets
16. Go for quality rather than quantity of homework
17. Monitor progress often
18. Break down large tasks into small tasks
19. Let yourself be playful, have fun
20. Watch out for over-stimulation
21. Underscore success as much as possible
22. Teach little memory tricks like mnemonics, flash cards, etc.
23. Use outlines. Teach outlining. Teach underlining.
24. Repeat
25. Simplify instructions
26. Use feedback that helps the child become self-observant
27. Make expectations explicit
28. Children with ADD respond well to rewards and incentives
29. Offer specific and explicit advice (a sort of social coaching)
30. Teach test-taking skills
31. Make a game plan out of things
32. Separate pairs and trios that don't do well together
33. Pay attention to connectedness
34. Give responsibility back t the child when possible
35. Try a home-to-school notebook
36. Try to use daily progress reports
37. Physical devices such as timers and buzzers can help with self-monitoring
38. Prepare for unstructured time
39. Praise, stroke, approve, encourage, nourish
40. With older children, suggest that they write little notes to themselves
41. Suggest learning how to type. Consider giving some tests orally.
42. Get the group's attention before beginning
43. Arrange for students to have a "study buddy."
44. Avoid stigma
45. Meet with parents often
46. Encourage reading aloud at home
47. Repeat, repeat, repeat
48. Encourage physical exercise
49. With older children, stress preparation
50. Always be on the lookout for sparkling moments
