The Energetic Brain: Understanding and Managing ADHD

How to get past the myths, tap into the creativity of the ADHD mind, and thrive

ADHD affects millions of people: some 3 to 5% of the general population. Written by a neuroscientist who has studied ADHD, a clinician who has diagnosed and treated it for 30 years, and a special educator who sees it daily, The Energetic Brain provides information from neuroscience on how the ADHD brain works and shows how to harness its potential for success. It distils research findings to give readers reliable information and practical strategies for managing ADHD-and thriving-at school, at work, and at home, from childhood through adulthood.

Features: • Debunks popular (and destructive) myths about ADHD • Covers how to manage ADHD with medication or without, what parents can do to help, and how to thrive with ADHD throughout the life span • Offers effective academic and behavioural interventions for school, and helpful accommodations for the workplace

The Energetic Brain provides a truly thorough view of ADHD, making it an invaluable guide for parents, teachers, and those living with ADHD.

Table of Contents

Part One: Getting to Know ADHD • 1. What Is ADHD? 3 • 2. What ADHD Looks Like: Common Behaviors and Related Disorders 27 • 3. How ADHD Affects Family and Friends 51

Part Two: Getting Help • 4. Is It Really ADHD? Getting the Right Diagnosis 77 • 5. How Medication Affects the ADHD Brain 107 • 6. Nonmedical Interventions That Work 141

Part Three: Managing ADHD from Childhood Through Adulthood • 7. Interventions That Strengthen Family Relationships: Strategies for Parents 171 • 8. Helping Students with ADHD Succeed at School: Strategies for Teachers 199 • 9. A Crash Course in Special Education and Section 504 231 • 10. Practical Strategies for College and the Workplace 271

Conclusion 299

Part Four: Appendixes • Appendix A: How Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (PBIS) Helps at School 305 • Appendix B: Glossary 331

Notes 369

Index 387