Now I Get What Its Like To Have ADHD

by Amy Ciarlo

Ive always thought of myself as pretty good at putting myself in other peoples shoes. But once I became a parent to a child with ADHD , I started to question that.

Our 10-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 8. He was never a boy who was constantly in motion or always running around, so ADHD seemed like a surprise to me at first.

However, he did have trouble sitting still for long periods. And while he could focus for hours on building with Legos, he would rarely stay at the dinner table for a meal. He was impulsive and would grab things out of his younger brothers hands. We disciplined him, but consequences didnt seem to faze him much or change his behavior.

It was the school setting that really started to magnify his attention challenges. He had trouble staying focused on the lessons being taught, and just like at home he struggled to sit in class without moving around or fidgeting . Nightly homework became a huge challenge for him (and for me).

After he was diagnosed, I read everything I could about ADHD. I was surprised to learn that ADHD affects far more people than I ever imagined. Somehow knowing that our son wasnt the only one with these challenges gave me a bit of comfort.

Yet even as I learned more, I still had a hard time understanding what he was going through. Id lose my patience with him when it seemed like he was disregarding what I was saying. Then Id get mad at myself for being upset with him.

As a child, I loved board games and large gatherings. But he was rarely interested in these thingsand sometimes even uncomfortable with them. That really confused me.

Thanks to the Internet and social media, I had access to dozens of helpful articles, resources and write-ups about how to support and parent a child with ADHD. But all too often, the mass of information felt like too much. The more I tried to read, the more I became overwhelmed.

I had learned about ADHD, but I still wasnt able to truly put myself in my sons shoes.

During one of my late-night worry sessions, I was searching online and came across Understoods Through Your Childs Eyes tool. I liked Understood because it was simple and clear, so I thought Id try the tool.

I selected my sons grade and attention issues. The tool then led me to a simulation of what its like to be a child with ADHD. I spent time doing a simple matching game, where I was supposed to place zoo animal cards on each other. But there were noises and distractions that simulated what its like to have attention difficulties.

For a few minutes, I was transported to a classroom of a frustrated young child with ADHD. It became harshly evident to me just how hard it is to stay focused and to complete taskseven simple oneswhen you have ADHD.

For the first time, it clicked for me. When my son looks like hes not paying attention, hes actually doing his best to pay attention to only one thing at a time. Many day-to-day tasks, which seem easy to me, are incredibly difficult for him.

I found myself trying out the other simulations in the tool to see what its like to have issues with math, reading and organization. The exercises were eye-opening. These kids struggle in a way many parents, including myself, just dont understand.

In the months that followed, I tried to get more in tune with the challenges our son faces every day with just about every task. Slowly, Ive become a more patient and understanding parent. Ive become more sensitive to how our son benefits from specific strategies. For instance, it helps if he has more time to transition from task to task . And its so important to choose the right setting for him, whether for play or learning.

I wish everyone could take some time to see what life is like through the eyes of kids with learning and attention issues. Wouldnt the world be a more welcoming place if we all took some time to try and walk in a childs shoes? Sometimes all it takes is a simple online simulation.

This post originally appeared on Understood.org.

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