2005年5月1日，小學五年級的Jack寫了一封信，對於自己到底是不是過動兒？感到非常困惑。阿丹當時六年級，看完他的信，寫了一篇回應。



我一直想問的一個問題是：我到底是不是過動兒？

小學三年級之前，從來沒有老師懷疑我是過動兒。但我三年級的老師，從起頭就注意到我有過動兒的一些現象。

她首先注意到的是我的雜亂。我必須承認，我是沒辦法在我的桌上找到任何東西！亂七八糟的原因，就是因為我總是習慣亂堆東西。交給老師的功課，總是夾了一大堆食物碎渣在上頭。這還算幸運的呢，常常是整份作業都不見了。
她也說我心不在焉。

我的游泳教練就說：我從來就聽不見她教的。
就是現在，當我似乎非常專心的注視我那五年級的老師時，沒有人看得出來，我其實正在想著等下要怎樣向同伴們惡作劇。

這 種健忘的情況並不單單在學校才發生。在家裡，連做一些最起碼份內該做的事，我都做不到。假如有任何老師看到，一定會給我打不及格的。我的意思是，假如你 要我把垃圾桶拿出去，突然，我發現我正拿著垃圾桶站在浴室，完全想不起來我正在做什麼。還有，我應該是洗洗手準備吃飯的，我卻開始刷起牙來。

第三個現象是：我沒辦法好好做完一件事。我玩完東西，也不會收好。(這又變得更混亂了。)我看書的時候，總是跳著看，沒辦法好好從頭看到尾。我考試，總是會漏答一個題目。

但是，我能夠比其他同學做得更快、更有果效。這又是我三年級老師認為的另一個過動兒的現象。
我到底是不是過動兒？

(Jack寫於5/1/2005)



嗨，我叫阿丹，我是一個ADHD的孩子(ADHD的意思是：過動／注意力短)。我讀了你的信，試著回答你的問題。
首先要提的是：幾乎所有過動兒的注意力都很短，同時沒有耐性，喜歡做白日夢，又沒有條理。

好吧，老實說當你處在一團亂時，通常就表示你不是很有條理，或者說你沒耐性清理(抱歉，我不是要冒犯你。)

接下來，關於你的健忘。那往往意味著你沒有專心；或者說你有，但沒有辦法持續太久。要解決這個問題，我認為：在家裡，專注在你做的頭一件事情上。記住！一旦你開始做某件事情，就一定設法做完它，之後才再另外開始做其它的事情。

你的信中提到，你不時的想惡作劇。我認為那也許表示了：你把你具有創意的心思用錯了地方。過動兒若是調教的合宜，他們是會幫著改進這個世界的。愛迪生與愛恩斯坦都是過動兒，瞧瞧他們做的!!!

按照我的看法，你是有注意力不集中症(ADD)。但是，每件事都可以從好幾方面去看它；所謂不好的那一面，往往也能夠變出好的結果。繼續努力！誰知道，說不定我們能夠改變整個世界呢。

(阿丹寫於5/1/2005)

A question I always had was DO I HAVE ADD?

Before my third grade teacher, none of my teachers suspected me of an ADD child. But as I said, my third grade teacher, from the very start, noticed the signs of ADD.

The first thing she noticed about me was messiness. I have to admit, I couldn't find a single thing in my desk! Those items that survived were all rumpled and torn from my habit of stuffing my stuff in a hurry. When I had homework, I always returned it with food splattered all over it. But that was on the luckier side. Some times, it was plain missing.

Then she also said I was absent minded.

But that was not the only remark about my extreme forgetfulness. My swimming instructor said I could never hear her words of advice. And when I seem to be staring intently on my fifth grade teacher, nobody could suspect that I was thinking about how I was going to play a practical trick on my fellow peers.

But forgetfulness didn’t just occur at school. At home, when I do the basic tasks, or chores, I flunk. If any teacher was watching, they would’ve given me a F. I mean, what would you do if you told me to take out the garbage and suddenly, I find myself with the trash bag, standing in the bathroom, completely clueless to what I’m doing. Also, When I am supposed to wash my hands for dinner, I start brushing my teeth.

And the third sign: My incapability of finishing a task. I cannot put away a game after I am done playing with it. (That also causes a huge mess, but that’s another case) I cannot finish a book without skipping a page. I cannot finish a quiz without missing a question.

But I CAN do work faster and more efficient than other students. My third grade teacher thinks that is yet another sign.

Do I, or do I not have ADD?

(5/1/2005 by Jack)



Dear Friend,

HI, my name is Joshua, and I’m an ADHD kid (hyper-active & short-attention span). I read your e-mail and I’m going to help you answer your question. First of all ADD is mostly just short-attention span as you read in the beginning. It shows impatience, a lot of day dreaming, and lack of organization.

OK, when your messiness is at hand it usually means you don’t organize very well, or not very patient of cleaning up (no offense). Next, your forgetfulness sometimes means you’re not paying attention, or you are but that doesn’t last very long. At home, concentrate on your first task; remember when you start something finish it before you start anything else. As having a trick every now and then maybe means your creative mind is being used the wrong way. ADD and ADHD kids if taught properly can send the world into progress. Thomas Edison had ADHD and also Albert Einstein. Look what they did!!!

For my answer, you do have ADD, but in some places you’re making good effort, for the others; keep up the good work. Who knows, maybe we can change the world.

(5/1/2005 by Josh)