Keys to Success in Children and Teens with ADHD

This brief commentary is based upon my recent book, 12 Principles for Raising a Child or Teen with ADHD. It concentrates on the keys to success that can be identified among ADHD success stories including celebrities as well as those children in his follow-up study, and others. BTW, I was listening to a James Brown song just before recording this video, hence the reference to his music at the beginning.
References:
Barkley, R. A. (2021). 12 Principles for Raising a Child or Teen with ADHD. New York: Guilfod Publications
The clip of James Brown’s performance of “I’m back” that I was listening to but did not record here is from this KZbin address:
• JAMES BROWN I'M BACK...

[@stevenwilliams3182]

The part about accepting ADHD as a neuro-genetic disorder really stands out for me. I think that’s important. Having the diagnosis for my son and being able to learn the objective, scientific facts about ADHD as a developmental disorder of executive functioning has just brought me a lot more peace than any of the feel good, positive thinking stuff.

[@traviswatson6527]

It feels like so much advice for parents of ADHD children assumes the parent doesn't have ADHD. This video is full of recommendations that feel near impossible...

[@ADHDad]

I found for my kids and I that it helped to stop looking at my ADHD and their ADHD as discrete issues that are silo'ed from one another. You're a unit with your kids. Find strategies that work for all of you most of the time, revisit and revise them as you go. We're all growing together.

[@user-bd4bo4tb8u]

I completely understand. I am a mom with ADHD and tried my best to do these things for my son. We had an extremely trouble marriage filled with chaos and no support in my efforts. I succeeded only in nurturing his talent in his sport. That is the only thing that got him into a college. Now he’s in college and still struggling with the things he struggled with in high school. His psychologist says to do nothing. This time, his father is paying his room and board, so there is cost involved for him. I’m hoping that will give him reason to finally pay for our son to get the help he needs to succeed. Having been through this myself, if I’d had the ability to pay for or even go into debt to pay to help my son, it would have been a worthwhile investment. I did not have access to money or credit and I was doing for my son what a professional should have been doing. I did it until I just couldn’t anymore. So I understand the ADHD mom thing. The school counselor was very helpful. I told her I had ADHD myself (and they helped support my son.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Yes, while I think that it is true that much advice is for the typical parent with such a child or teen, some studies show that when parents with ADHD get treated their parenting efforts improve significantly so that is something to consider. I also discuss this issue of parenting with adult ADHD in my book, Taking Charge of Adult ADHD. Thanks for watching.

[@petreang]

My parents got very angry when somebody suggested they have a mental illness. They both have been hospitalized, but they kept saying they have been misunderstood.

[@FarmerGwyn]

I feel your pain, you are overwhelmed, a classic ADHD state of mind. Start with the one most effective thing that will help, that's usually To Do lists, keep on top of your lists, then things will I guarantee you will get better, then you can build on that. The results are quite immediate but you probably won't actually start realising this for a few weeks. Lists help a lot with sleep, you're transferring the tasks from your brain to the list, you then have less thoughts going round in your overactive brain.

[@priyabriggs659]

Thank you for another useful talk on ADHD. Behind every ADHD child is a hardworking parent, more often than not, the mother, who is their advocate, support and guide.

[@s.m.4948]

Im not sure that every ADHD child has a hardworking parent who is their advocate, support and guide.The foster care system is full of ADHD kids whose parents were not able to/ didn't want to handle them. It's estimated that about 40% of people in jail have ADHD and I would think many of those inmates had parents who weren't positively involved in their children's lives. Every child, ADHD or otherwise, deserves a loving, involved parent but we know that's simply not the case.

[@user-ez6vj1dv8c]

Thank you so much for this video! I have a 7 year old with ADHD who has already been identified by the teachers as very bright, but can struggle to get work finished or demonstrate that intelligence in a traditional way. He is, however, a truly gifted Lego builder, being able to conceive and build things that even much older children cannot; he certainly seems to have the brain of a budding engineer! I'm hopeful that such a strength can be capitalised on in future with the right encouragement and support. It is so nice to hear that those with ADHD can truly be successful given the right support.

[@TheLivingVision11]

How do you suggest a person succinctly responds to people who say ADHD does not exist? My son has severe adhd, I have adhd, I’m trying to get the support my son needs, but his father denies its existence and claims that I am causing the problems by focusing on it. My sons school (private Waldorf school of 8 years) has said they can’t support him, and I agree. But, his father doesn’t. They have spoken with a “specialist”, teacher of 36 years who responded saying “Conditions like ADHD don’t really exist. What exists are children whose needs at the most basic of levels have not been met.”. I can do my best to retort, but I’m just learning myself. I would love to just walk away, but there’s this tug of war going on. I would love an “elevator pitch“ way to respond in these situations. Thank you for continuing to be such a pillar of grounded wisdom and guidance.

[@octopiinthesky44]

Could you do something like that for adults with adhd (maybe even late-diagnosed)? 😃

[@proudgoose]

fucking love the ending "does this thought disorder run in my family?" *proceeds to talk about his nasal decongestant spray and its effects on tangential thinking*

[@victorrivas2350]

Thank goodness for this channel!!

[@aliciamartinez6193]

Dr. Rusell thanks for making these shorter videos, I am a mom with adha so its easier for me to complete these. My kid has autism and adhd..any resources or recomendations I could use to guide me on how to best support him?

[@gjament]

Thank you so much for all of your videos! 🥹🙏

[@ADHDS.S]

Thank you professor I love you lectures You are a great inspiration to us. ❤

[@mandomi]

Doc thanks for this video. As a parent of a child with ADHD a positive view is always very well received

[@12yrtti]

Thank you so much for these videos, they are extremely useful and interesting. Good work mate keep it up!

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Thanks!

[@killzoltar]

HE BACK LIKE JAMES BROWN BABYYYYYY

[@user-bd4bo4tb8u]

Again, so good and so helpful. Thank you!

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Thank you for watching.

[@stmcm]

As always, a very enterataining Video! Thank you! 🙂 I cant wait for a video about ADHD & Memory. Why its often so bad in people with ADHD and if one can do something about it.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

One on working memory is coming Thursday morning but besides what I discuss there, medication helps, too. Be well.

[@sidehustle4698]

Amazing info. Can people with ADHD develop habbits or routines on our own?. It feels like a start, stop, self loathing . Is it realistic goal ?

[@user-pb3dr7nq2f]

Thanks 🥰

[@karlakay]

And many current successful comedians, too

[@justinmott5239]

Is there any research showing that ADHD people succeed more often in nontraditional paths? Obvious the well publicized success are helpful case studies, but I am just curious if there is also quantitative data. Thanks for your awesome videos. They are really helping me learn to manage my adhd as an adult and prepare to help my child as gets older should he also have adhd

[@TsutsuYumeGunnm]

What should do those people that happen to live in a country where ADHD is not recognized or treated?

[@SpartyCubsFan]

Dr Barkley, have you done any videos on how to get children/teens onboard with accepting the diagnose, so as to actively be part of the solution(s) you recommend in videos such as these? We’ve found no discussion about this topic in multiple books and literature; the question is really how to best address those in deep denial and who “want it to go away”

[@Dontpaymenomine]

Just some opinions....I suggest culinary sciences be a last resort unless you (the parent) know and actually understand a positive path in this area and your child is interested in that. This field is full of a lack of respect for workers especially in comparison to modern expectations. In general your childs efforts will be better rewarded and they will have better lives in most other fields. Try to keep your kids open minded, expose them to things in the real world, promote things theyre sucessful in and try to keep the successes coming. This will give them more opportunities. As pretty much stated in this video, Support their basic well being and provide guidance. A positive self esteem will help them take care of themselves when they're on their own .

[@lindzdm]

Dr Barkley, I have been really enjoying your videos and shared them with my husband (who is a lecturer in Developmental Psychology). I did want to ask what you would say to someone that suggests that if an individual has been successful in school & University and was not disruptive, that they can't then have had ADHD?

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

That is ridiculous. Many very bright people also have ADHD and can handle much of the work required for an education, including at university. While many people with ADHD don't complete a college education, some are able to do so, especially with accommodations or even self-made adjustments besides taking medication. So, its not true.

[@ALADDIN22091978]

Thanks , what about a diagnosis of ADHD, as an adult aged 41. I also have diagnoses of dyspraxia and Aspergers traits ( now Autistic traits ) . The support for ADHD, is better than for my other conditions. I got a degree , postgraduate qualification. I did not have a lot of success looking for traditional jobs ,I became self employed, earned a regular income.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

My book, Taking Charge of Adult ADHD has a lot of suggestions, some of which are int eh adult ADHD video here. Books by Ari Tuchman, Peg Dawson, Tom Brown and others may contain further recommendations on how to be more effective and successful with adult ADHD. be well.

[@Alex-js5lg]

Excellent timing! I'm trying to get some people in my life to start thinking this way about a chilld with ADHD. It's not enough to have the diagnosis and medication: there needs to be an understanding of what ADHD actually *means* and how to scaffold a child's life appropriately. On a tangentially related subject, would you say that ADHD should necessarily preclude people from holding certain occupations? For example, are the stakes too high for someone with ADHD to safely work as a structural engineer with a boring, tedious desk job? Or would you say that ADHD that is sufficiently managed with medication/therapy/guardrails should not be viewed as (for lack of a better word) a liability?

[@ADHDad]

No. Anyone who thinks we should be stopped from having any job or need to prove beyond normal job requirements that we can do the job because we have ADHD is engaging in discrimination. Which is morally wrong, and maybe legally prohibited depending where you are in the world.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Yes, indeed. We don’t all have to succeed through the main traditional pathways. Be well.

[@williampan29]

​@ADHDad nope. Professor Barkley's old videos mentioned how he had cases of teenager with ADHD babysit toddlers and killing them in a fit of rage. Therefore, we must weight in on the condition, instead of treating every limitation as morally wrong.

[@Kriff48]

Wpan29: ​The impression I got from ADHDad's post was that he was disputing the idea that people with ADHD, including adults who effectively treat their condition, should be excluded from certain fields entirely simply because of ADHD. And that would be unjustified discrimination. Obviously, untreated teenagers should not be given tasks for which their executive age makes them unsuited, especially when those tasks can affect others' safety. But people with ADHD can be engineers, scientists, physicians, attorneys, and other types of professionals whose work affects the lives of others (as Dr. Barkley also said in his lecture for parents). They should not be excluded from these fields on the basis of this condition, which, as Dr. Barkley has previously noted, is the most treatable condition in psychiatry.

[@Alex-js5lg]

​@@ADHDadI understand what you mean, but some jobs have inherent limitations on who can fill the role. For example, I don't think it's discrimination to say a paraplegic can't be a firefighter or tow truck operator.

[@scarlofravelli8680]

Hey Russel, May I ask you to talk a bit more about SCT? That's a topic so nebulous for me and my colleagues, and we don't have much where to go but you and your book

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Thanks. I have tried to review what is know in my six part lecture series on CDS, which is the new name for SCT. Check out that review I cited in the video description which goes over everything up thru last Fall. You can track the new articles as they appear using Google el scholar and specifying in the settings to alert you to new publications on those two terms. Be well.

[@noioncities1979]

Dr. Barkley, I recently emailed you and forgot to include a request to consider posting a video that would discuss how autism and ADHD can affect each other. I hear a lot about one “cancelling out” signs/ symptoms of the other, but how much research is behind that? My son has ADHD and autism though it is mild, but trying to find as much info as possible and many places that address this are referencing children with more severe autism than my son’s. Thanks!

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

There is not much out there on this comorbidity other than some research studies, which show that they don't cancel each other out but can make impairments worse when they co-occur. My friend, Tom Brown, does have a book about high function ASD teens and young adults who also have ADHD so please check that resource. Duke University Autism Center of Excellencce is also studying the comorbidity through a variety of research projects and may have some information on their website about it for families. I wish you well with your son.

[@noioncities1979]

Thank you! I will be looking into all of that. Fortunately neither is affecting his sense of humor or musical ability :) so he got some great compensation we are supporting.

[@Kriff48]

Dr. Barkley, I appreciate your excellent work, but I am concerned that some people will misinterpret your parting words on academics and suggestion to focus on non-academic success to mean that we should not encourage their academic work and perhaps that we should even try to divert them from such fields. Considering my ADHD-afflicted colleagues and friends who effectively treat their condition (through medicine and externalizations) and succeed in academic fields (including law and medicine), this suggestion, though certainly unintended, is concerning. In fact, there is even a question in this comment section asking if ADHD people are inherently unsuited for engineering. But as you said in your lecture to parents many years ago, ADHD predisposes to no gift but ADHD people can be gifted scientists, physicians, and other professionals. I hope you can clarify this in a comment or future video. Perhaps there are even studies you can share regarding the prevalence of ADHD diagnoses in certain fields. Thank you for your lifetime of work in this field and the many lives you have improved, perhaps even saved, as a result.

[@SuperSsusie]

But, adding a learning disability makes it more difficult. My boy is struggling so much, and I am going crazy trying to help because is more difficult

[@user-st9hi8mw7n]

Doctor. Thank You for Help !!!