Review of "ADHD & Me"
By Blake E.S. TaylorNew Harbinger, 2008
Review by Maeve O'Donovan, Ph.D. on Aug 26th 2008
When Blake Taylor, a 17 year old, describes what it is like to have Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), he often gets it wrong. Yet, his misunderstandings constitute the remarkable value of his work. The memoir's achievement is as a window into the way an impulsive, hyperactive, intelligent, curious and economically advantaged young male with ADHD sees the world. Until now, no such memoir has been available. Stories of growing up ADHD exist (One Boy's Struggle: A Memoir: Surviving Life with Undiagnosed ADHD and The Little Monster: Growing Up with ADHD), but Taylor's is the first by a teen-aged author.
ADHD & Me claims to provide an accurate account of ADHD and its symptoms. Because much of the public discussion of ADHD includes erroneous assumptions about the condition, its diagnosis, and treatment (see The Myth of ADHD and Other Learning Disabilities: Parenting without Ritalin; The ADHD Fraud: How Psychiatry Makes 'Patients' of Normal Children; and Critical New Perspectives on ADHD) and because Taylor's mistakes can reinforce negative stereotypes of ADHD rather than dispel them, his mistakes as well as his insights need discussion.
The book is composed of fifteen chapters, each with the same structure: first, a personal, often painful or embarrassing story in which Taylor faces the consequences of a particular ADHD symptom (the symptom gives the chapter its title, and a subtitle identifies the lesson the story will tell, as well as the school year in which it took place); next, a "cause & effect" section describing either another story of how the symptom has impacted his life, a story about his efforts to overcome the symptom, or a description of the symptom's frequency and cause in the ADHD person; finally, each chapter ends with a numbered list of "solutions" -- tips and recommendations based on his experiences.
For an ADHD audience, this is a fine format; graphics, subheadings, numbered lists, and large-font excerpts in the margins enhance it. The book seems designed for a reader who is not a linear thinker, has trouble sustaining attention, is frequently distracted, especially when bored, and benefits from the external structuring of ideas. One can fruitfully read Taylor's chapters out of order, look at only the "solutions" sections, or flip through to find school years or lessons learned. Chapters are self-contained, and not in chronological order; the well-explained "solutions" are readable on their own, and Taylor's storytelling gifts make any excerpt engaging.
His main achievement is to show us how he sees the world. Taylor's account of the role ADHD plays in the events of his life differs from that of a parent, therapist, teacher, or ADHD expert. Given his age and untrained knowledge, his reflections on his decision-making processes and behaviors are well formed and await fuller development. In describing his perceived mistreatment at the hands of his first grade teacher, for example, Taylor alternates between admitting to certain behaviors, in this case, throwing a pen against the wall (a pen which explodes on contact and splashes both the wall and teacher with blue ink), admitting to not taking responsibility for them ("'Blake, what did you just do?' she asks sharply. I don't answer (120)," and insisting that the teacher unfairly assumes he is responsible for much classroom mischief.
Inconsistent, but not a failure. One of my favorite passages is Taylor's response to the teacher telling his parents that he threw multiple pens against the wall: "I am being punished for throwing many pens--not just one--and I didn't even hit anyone!" The passage captures a first grader's view of the world: 'I didn't do it, it's not my fault, she's the one who isn't being fair!' To work with an ADHD child on behavior control requires knowing that this is how the child will perceive things.
In the "cause and effect" section following this story, Taylor sharply describes how and why the adults around him responded as they did; in the "solutions" section he lists, "Be honest" as tip number two. Yet, his very unwillingness to shed his frustration at the teacher's slight, even at age 17, animates his story and gives it its value: we hear the voice of a child describing his world -- no small accomplishment for a writer. It powerfully reminds ADHD adults how much we might have forgotten about being in the earliest stages of understanding the impact of ADHD on our lives.
Nevertheless, several repeated claims need correction. Two of the most significant involve Taylor's assumption that his form of ADHD is ADHD. Citing a counselor and his mother as sources, he claims that hyperactivity is the norm among ADHD persons: "One Counselor, George Lynn describes ADHD kids as being 'like tigers in a zoo who may feel an enormous amount of energy, but may be distressingly unable to focus or control it (50).'" Earlier, his mother had commented that, were he a car, he'd be a "bright red Ferrari (167)." And, in a section devoted to the gifts of ADHD, "Great Energy" is ascribed to all ADHD people (172). Not so, unfortunately. There are three clinically recognized subtypes of ADHD -- predominantly hyperactive/impulsive (not inattentive), predominantly inattentive (not hyperactive/impulsive), and combined. In the predominantly inattentive sub-type, low-energy is the norm, and appearing 'spacey,' day-dreaming and 'tuning out' are far more common than perpetual motion. If this subtype were an animal, it would be the walrus or the sloth, not the tiger. Between one third and one half of people with ADHD meet the criteria for this non-hyperactive subtype.
Taylor's other major mistake is to include disobedience as a hallmark of the ADHD child. In the chapter on disobedience, he recounts having willfully and repeatedly disobeyed the rules of his sailing school. Caught and disciplined each time, he is undeterred -- and finally banned from the school. In the "cause & effect" section of the disobedience chapter, Taylor claims that people with ADHD "tend not to listen to or follow directions. You think the rules are for someone else. You think you can just do what you want to do, and the rules are just annoyances that are in your way and should be ignored (148)."
As much late twentieth century scholarship shows, however, attitudes toward authority and community norms are gendered. Young men are frequently socialized to challenge positions of authority, to stand out from the crowd by leading rather than following, while young women are more often brought up to obey, agree, and not cause trouble. Although such roles have recently loosened in the U. S., strict social roles prevail in other parts of the world. Thanks to the physiological fact that men tend to be hyperactive and impulsive with ADHD whereas women tend to be non-hyperactive and non-impulsive, different outcomes emerge from similar circumstances. When ADHD persons are distracted and misinterpret directions, their gender is likely to guide them into responding in different ways. A young man might be prompted to accomplish the task in new ways, with confidence and pride. For a young woman, however, failing to follow directions often results in guilt, shame, and a desire to be obedient at the next opportunity.
While we need to hear more from and about young women with ADHD, then, especially those with the inattentive subtype, anyone who wants to understand how an ADHD young man sees himself and his world should read Blake Taylor's book, an important and needed addition to the growing body of literature on ADHD.
© 2008 Maeve M. O'Donovan
Maeve O'Donovan is an assistant professor of philosophy at College of Notre Dame of Maryland.
Resources
-
Articles
-
Childhood ADHD Overview
- Introduction to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Signs & Symptoms of ADHD
- ADHD Signs and Symptoms: Attention Difficulties
- ADHD Signs and Symptoms: Hyperactivity
- ADHD Signs and Symptoms: Impulsivity
- Are There Different Types of ADHD?
- The Social, Educational, Financial & Occupational Impact of ADHD
- What are the Legal Rights of Caregivers and Their Children with ADHD (USA)?
- A Positive Spin: Is There Anything Good about ADHD?
- Signs of ADHD in Children at Home
- Signs of ADHD in Children at School
- Signs of ADHD in Children in Peer Relationships
- How Do I know if My Child Needs an ADHD Evaluation?
- What Should I Do If I Think My Child Might Have ADHD?
-
ADHD Discoveries and Controversies
- ADHD: New and Exciting Brain Research
- ADHD: New and Exciting Brain Research - Part II
- Neurotransmitter Changes with ADHD
- Executive Functions
- Neurodiversity: Is ADHD a True Mental Disorder?
- ADHD Statistics
- Cultural and Gender Differences in Prevalence Rates
- Should Children with ADHD Be Medicated?
- New and Promising Areas of Research
- Causes of ADHD in Children
- ADHD or Another Condition?
-
Diagnosis of ADHD in Children
- Who Can Diagnose ADHD?
- How Does ADHD Multi-Source Assessment Work?
- Assessment Instruments: Behavioral Checklists
- Assessment Instruments: Intelligence Tests
- Assessment Instruments: Achievement Tests (or Academic Tests)
- Assessment Instruments: Tests of Attention
- Assessment Instruments: Memory and Other Common Tests
- Step 2: Clinical Interviews
- Step 3: Physical Exam and Medical History
-
ADHD Treatment in Children
- Multimodal ADHD Treatment Approach
- ADHD Medications
- Treating ADHD with Stimulant Drugs
- Commonly Prescribed ADHD Stimulant Medications
- Treating ADHD with Non-Stimulant Drugs
- Risks of ADHD Medication
- Risks of ADHD Medications - Part II
- Benefits of ADHD Medication
- Side Effects of ADHD Medications
- Medication Decisions and Medication Management
- How Long Should ADHD Medication Treatment Last
- Psycho-Education about ADHD and Its Management
- Family Therapy
- Individual and Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy for the Child with ADHD
- Skills Training
- Social Skills Training and Coaching
- Supports
- Alternative ADHD treatment: What Does NOT Work?
-
Family and Personal Supports
- Effective Disciplinary Techniques
- Learn about Resources and Be Proactive
- Manage Stress, Self-Regulation & Provide Order
- Develop Routines, Organization and Expectations
- Communicate and Collaborate with Schools
- Express Confidence in Your Child's Abilities
- Help Children Improve Social Skills and Peer Relationships
- Avoid Homework Battles and Monitor Medication
- I Think I have ADHD. What should I do?
- I Think I Have ADHD - Part II
- Famous People with ADHD
- Adult ADHD Overview
-
Diagnosis of Adult ADHD
- How is Adult ADHD Diagnosed?
- Diagnostic Challenge 1: Looking into the Past
- Diagnostic Challenge 2: ADHD versus Similar Disorders
- Diagnostic Challenge 2 - Part II
- Diagnostic Challenge 3: ADHD Symptoms
- Diagnostic Challenge 3 - Part II
- Diagnostic Challenge 4: A Concealed Disorder
- Specialized Tests and Tools
-
Adult ADHD Treatment
- ADHD Medication Treatment
- Stimulant and Non-Stimulant Drugs for Adult ADHD
- Medication Timing, Dosage, Monitoring, and Duration of Treatment
- Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Adult ADHD Medications
- Psychotherapy for ADHD
- Coaching/Supported Employment for Adult ADHD
- Social Skills Training for Adult ADHD
- Psycho-Education and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- ADHD Resources and References
-
Childhood ADHD Overview
-
Questions and Answers
- Does This Sound Like Bipolar?
- Do I Have Adult ADD?
- Why do I See Words and Numbers in my Mind...
- ADD Maybe?
- How do I Get Medical Treatment for my Medicine Refill Without Insurance?
- Is There Something Wrong With Me?
- I Can't function Normally Anymore, Can More Diagnoses issues Risk Survival?
- Bipolar Teen Son, ........
- Is My Daughter ADD?
- ODD and Risperdal
-
34 more
- If There's Nothing New, There's Nothing Good.
- Mystery Symptoms
- Bipolar Disorder and ADHD
- How To Help My Son
- Anger
- Depression in College Seniors
- Odd Eating Behavior
- 5 Year Old Behavior-Is it ADHD or Bipolar or Both?
- odd (ADHD)
- Attention Deficit and Depression
- What Should I do? Noah
- 16 year old girl with Attention Deficit Disorder
- Thoughts
- Diagnosed ADHD at 13, now being told I have bipolar disorder
- ADHD in Twins
- Inherited ADHD
- How to get off Focalin
- new diagnosis
- am i off my head i feel i have no feelings and want to harm ppl
- 17 yr old refuses help with bi-polar disorder
- Is Depression a Factor in Children With ADD?
- IS ADHD CAUSING HIM TO FAIL?
- heightened sexual behavior in my 8 yr. old with adhd
- seperation anxiety disorder or environment?
- my 7 year old nephew
- my daughter
- Do I have adult ADD?
- Fantasy land for attention
- 13 Yearl Old
- ADD
- Misdiagnosed and Lied To
- Funding Treatment (Without Insurance)
- Can ADHD Turn Into Bipolar?
- How Long To Diagnose ADHD?
-
Tests
-
Book & Media Reviews
- 10 Simple Solutions to Adult ADD
- A Walk in the Rain With a Brain
- ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life
- ADHD & Me
- ADHD Grown Up
- ADHD in Adults
- ADHD Nation
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Buzz
-
29 more
- Driven to Distraction
- Facts About ADHD Children
- Healing ADD
- Helping Hyperactive Kids
- I Am Not Joey Pigza
- Joey Pigza Loses Control
- Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
- Learning Outside the Lines
- Making ADD Work
- Medicating Children
- Mind Fields
- New Look at ADHD: Inhibition, Time, and Self-Control
- Non-Drug Treatments for ADHD
- Overcoming ADHD
- Parenting Children With ADHD
- Reclaiming Our Children
- Rethinking ADHD
- Ritalin is Not the Answer Action Guide
- Ritalin Nation
- Running on Ritalin
- Should I Medicate My Child?
- Taking Charge of ADHD, Revised Edition
- The Explosive Child
- The Gift of Adult ADD
- The Little Monster
- The Science of ADHD
- Thumbsucker
- Treating ADHD and Comorbid Disorders
- What Would Joey Do?
-
Links
-
Videos
- How to Select the Best School Accommodations for Your Child with ADHD
- How to Manage ADHD and Anxiety
- What You Need to Know about Students with ADHD and Anxiety
- ADHD and Eating Right
- Tourette Syndrome and ADHD
- Homework, Organization, and Time Management Strategies to Help Kids with ADHD
- Nutrition in Support of ADHD Treatment
- Behavioral Therapy: What it is and finding a therapist
- Project-Based Learning and ADHD
- Conditions May Mimic ADHD
-
102 more
- Department of Education Guidance Broadens Understanding of 504 Rights for Kids with ADHD Part I
- Treating ADHD in the African American Community
- How to Build Self-Motivation in Teens with ADHD
- Goal Setting and Keeping for the ADHD Brain
- Neurofeedback Treatment for ADHD
- ADHD in Preschoolers: What to Look For and How to Help
- FYI on ADHD Evaluations
- Teaching Grit, Perseverance and Frustration Tolerance to Students with ADHD
- Does my Child Have ADHD?
- How to Start Eating Well When You Have ADHD
- 5 Solutions for Common ADHD Social Struggles
- Is My High School Student Ready for College? (And Is My College Student Ready to Go Back?)
- Understanding and Applying the Science of Time Management
- ADHD Medication and College Students: Prevent Misuse, Abuse, and Diversion
- Improve Homework Time with Strategies That Work For ADHD
- Student Voices: What Really Matters to Young Adults With Learning and Attention Issues
- 5 Ways Nutrition can Impact ADHD Symptoms
- 3 Tips for Adjusting to a New Diagnosis of ADHD
- Creating the Best Learning Environment for Students with ADHD
- ADHD & Executive Functioning
- Department of Education Guidance Broadens Understanding of 504 Rights for Kids with ADHD Part II
- Ask The Expert: Neurofeedback Treatment for ADHD
- ADHD and Suicide Risk Factors
- The Choice is in the Details: Medication Options for ADHD
- Understanding and Supporting Young Adults with ADHD
- Helping Your Young Adult Become Independent
- Creating Structure and Routines for Children with ADHD
- When You and Your Child Have ADHD - Communication Skills to Resolve Conflict
- Guidance for Uncertain Times: Navigating Relationship Challenges
- Guidance for Uncertain Times: Mindful Parenting
- Couples with ADHD: Creating Caring Connection amid the Chaos
- Disclosure and Workplace Accommodations for Individuals With ADHD
- A Summer At Camp
- Self-Advocacy Tips For Teens With ADHD
- ADHD and Curbing Impulsive Spending to Help Your Relationship
- ADHD: Signs, Symptoms, Research
- ADHD & Risk of Adult Drug Use
- Health and Life Expectancy in ADHD
- Focus on ADHD
- Pediatrics: ADHD and Food Allergies
- ADHD: It's a Family Affair
- Does Your Child Have ADHD?
- ADHD in Children
- Living with ADHD
- Rise in ADHD Cases in Children
- Why is Dating Difficult When You Have ADHD
- Video Games, Screens, and ADHD A Potent Mix
- Ask the Expert Helping Children with ADHD LD Conquer Chronic Stress
- Ask the Expert: Mindfulness, Stress, & Emotion
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Ask the Expert Educator Edition: ADHD & Executive Functioning
- Ask the Expert - Academic Evaluations - What Parents Need to Know
- ADHD and Sibling Relationships
- Medication Treatment for ADHD
- Using Time Out
- Treating Childhood ADHD
- ADHD-friendly Summer Family FUNdamentals
- Preparing Older Teens for the Road Ahead
- Tips for Teachers: Tailoring homework to make a difference
- Your Active Preschooler: Could it be ADHD?
- Tips for Teachers: Creating a positive dialogue with parents of students with ADHD
- Helping Parents & Kids Understand the Social & Emotional Aspects of ADHD
- Social and Emotional Concerns of Children with ADHD: Strategies to Help
- Holiday Gifts for Children with ADHD
- Behavior Management and Combined Treatment for Children with ADHD
- Setting Realistic School Expectations for Students with ADHD
- On Their Own: Helping College Students with ADHD
- Children's Communication Challenges: Is it Attention, Language or Both?
- Out-of-School: Parenting During the Summer
- ADHD in the Workplace: Finding Success
- Emotions and Motivation in ADHD
- The Role of Medication in Managing Children's ADHD Symptoms
- Top Tips for Combating Stigma and Addressing Myths about ADHD
- Facts and Myths about ADHD
- What To Do If Your Child Has ADHD?
- How Common is ADHD?
- Children, Meds, and Heart Safety: A Tale of ADHD and Public Health
- ADHD & Your Child’s Transition to College
- Your Teen with ADHD: Challenges and Strategies for Success
- Ask the Expert - No more homework battles
- A Frontline to ADHD
- Understanding Girls with ADHD
- What is ADHD?
- What To Do When Your Child With ADHD is Bullied
- Stop the Chaos! Tips for Creating a Peaceful Household When Mom has ADHD
- Is It ADHD?
- Ask the Expert - What else can I do? Complementary approaches to ADHD treatment
- All in a row: Getting your kids with ADHD organized
- Your Student With ADHD Was Admitted to College, Now what?
- Evidence-based treatment for ADHD in young children
- Home life when Mom or Dad has ADHD: Succeeding with your family
- How does technology affect ADHD?
- Diagnosing ADHD
- Helping Your Child Successfully Handle Change
- Recognizing challenging behaviors in young children: Could it be ADHD?
- Classroom Managment Supports for ADHD Behaviors in Preschool Settings
- Getting through to your teenager with ADHD
- What Everyone Should Know about ADHD
- Make Learning Exciting: Apps for Executive Functioning
- Teenagers, ADHD, and Substance Abuse
- Past Procrastination -- Get Your Kids Organized, Focused and Motivated
- Ask the Expert: Late, Lost, and Unprepared: How to Help Your Child with Executive Functioning
-
More Information
Topics
-
Related Topic Centers
-
Addictions
-
Aging & Elder Care
-
Assessments & Interventions
-
Career & Workplace
-
Emotional Well-Being
-
Life Issues
-
Parenting & Child Care
-
Abuse
-
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
-
Adoption
-
Autism
-
Child & Adolescent Development: Overview
-
Child & Adolescent Development: Puberty
-
Child Development & Parenting: Early (3-7)
-
Child Development & Parenting: Infants (0-2)
-
Child Development & Parenting: Middle (8-11)
-
Child Development & Parenting:Adolescence (12-24)
-
Child Development Theory: Adolescence (12-24)
-
Child Development Theory: Middle Childhood (8-11)
-
Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses
-
Childhood Special Education
-
Divorce
-
Family & Relationship Issues
-
Intellectual Disabilities
-
Learning Disorders
-
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
-
Parenting
-
Self Esteem
-
-
Psychological Disorders
-
Anxiety Disorders
-
Bipolar Disorder
-
Conversion Disorders
-
Depression: Depression & Related Conditions
-
Dissociative Disorders
-
Domestic Violence and Rape
-
Eating Disorders
-
Impulse Control Disorders
-
Intellectual Disabilities
-
Mental Disorders
-
Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
-
Personality Disorders
-
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
-
Schizophrenia
-
Sexual Disorders
-
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
-
Suicide
-
Tourettes and other Tic Disorders
-