30 Essential Ideas you should know about ADHD, 7B The 30% Rule, 4 Components for Effective Treatment

Summary

This script discusses the challenges of ADHD in children and adults, emphasizing the 'thirty percent rule' which suggests that individuals with ADHD are typically 30% behind their actual age in self-regulation. It advises parents to adjust expectations and accommodations accordingly. The transcript also highlights the importance of proper evaluation, education, medication, and environmental adaptations to support individuals with ADHD effectively.

Takeaways

• 🧠 ADHD is characterized by a self-regulation disorder and a quantitative deficit, often resulting in developmental delays.
• 📏 The '30 percent rule' suggests that on average, a child with ADHD functions at a level 30 percent behind their chronological age, affecting various aspects of life.
• 👨‍👧 Parents are advised to adjust expectations to a child's 'executive age', which is 30 percent younger than their actual age, to avoid unnecessary conflict.
• 🚫 Overestimating a child's capabilities can lead to problems, similar to expecting a dyslexic child to read normally or a child with cognitive impairments to be self-sufficient.
• 🛣️ The environment and expectations should be adapted to match the child's executive functioning level, not their chronological age.
• 🏫 For older children and young adults with ADHD, accommodations may be necessary in educational settings, such as more supervision and support.
• 🚗 An analogy is made regarding the inappropriateness of giving a 16-year-old with ADHD a driver's license, equating it to giving an 11-year-old such responsibility.
• 📋 A comprehensive treatment plan for ADHD must include a proper evaluation, education for the family, medication, and environmental accommodations.
• 💊 Medication is recognized as the most effective intervention for ADHD, and up to 80% of children with ADHD may be on medication at some point.
• 📚 Families need to educate themselves about ADHD to better understand and manage the condition.
• 🛠️ Accommodations and strategies, such as externalizing information and creating 'prosthetic' devices, are crucial to help individuals with ADHD succeed.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the transcript related to ADHD children?

The main issue discussed is the self-regulation disorder and the quantitative deficit in ADHD children, which leads to them being, on average, 30 percent behind their actual age in terms of executive functioning.

What is the 'thirty percent rule' mentioned in the transcript?

The 'thirty percent rule' is a rule of thumb suggesting that the average ADHD child functions at a level 30 percent behind their chronological age in terms of self-regulation and executive functioning.

How should parents adjust their expectations for a child with ADHD?

Parents should adjust their expectations to the child's 'executive age,' which is 30 percent younger than their chronological age, to avoid causing unnecessary conflict and to better support the child's development.

What is the implication of the 'thirty percent rule' for a 16-year-old with ADHD?

For a 16-year-old with ADHD, the implication is that they might function at the executive level of an 11-year-old, which means they should not be given the same level of responsibility or independence as a typical 16-year-old.

How should educational institutions accommodate ADHD students?

Educational institutions should make accommodations such as providing more support, creating a substance-free environment, and ensuring regular check-ins with student services to help ADHD students succeed.

What is the role of medication in treating ADHD according to the transcript?

Medication is considered the most effective intervention for ADHD, and it should not be surprising if up to 80 percent of children with ADHD are on medication at some point in their developmental period.

Why is it important for families to educate themselves about ADHD?

Families need to educate themselves about ADHD to better understand the condition, know how to deal with it, and to ensure they are providing the right support and accommodations for their child.

What are the four components of an effective treatment plan for ADHD as mentioned in the transcript?

The four components are: 1) a good evaluation by a knowledgeable professional, 2) education for the family about ADHD, 3) the use of medication as the most effective intervention, and 4) making accommodations to alter the environment to suit the child's executive functioning level.

Why is it crucial to get a proper evaluation for a child with ADHD?

A proper evaluation is crucial because 80 percent of individuals with ADHD have another disorder that also needs to be treated, and an evaluation helps identify these co-occurring conditions.

How should parents approach giving responsibilities to their ADHD child, such as babysitting?

Parents should consider the child's executive age rather than their chronological age when giving responsibilities. For example, a 14-year-old with ADHD might only have the executive functioning of a 9-year-old, so they should not be given the responsibility of babysitting an infant.

What does the speaker suggest about the use of behavioral interventions compared to medication for ADHD?

The speaker suggests that while behavioral interventions can be good when they are done, they are not as effective as medication. Medication is necessary to fill the gaps that behavioral interventions cannot address.