Attention
Pay Attention to Your Inner Voice…
- Do people tell you if you would control your ADHD or just “pay attention”, learning would be easy for you?
- “Paying Attention” requires a system of Executive Functions to direct, plan, monitor and achieve goals.
- ADHD, a pattern of behaviors that impacts performance, is managed by executive function and language comprehension.
Executive Function System
- Verbal Working Memory: remember words, numbers, and sentences
- I remember the directions while working
- I remember the directions while working
- Visual/Spatial Working Memory: remember pictures, objects and their location
- I retrieve information from the blackboard, notes and text.
- I remember where my files are located and can access them without assistance
- Filter, Interrupt and Correct thoughts and external distractions
- Hearing a bird outside the window, I focus on reading my literature assignment.
- I dismiss thoughts about dinner when I attend a late day meeting.
- Direct Task Completion through organizing
- I check the directions as I write my answer to verify my answer is complete.
- I create lists and use them to schedule my time and achieve goals.
- Consider Different Perspectives
- I present an argument with more than one point of view.
- I discuss the operation plan with all team leaders.
- Switch Between Tasks
- I read the board, listen to the teacher, and write notes.
- I write a proposal and respond to questions from staff at the same time.
- Monitor and Revise Goals
- I re-read the question, revise my paragraph and create transitions.
- I incorporate feedback from my business unit leaders and adjust the operational plan to meet all needs.
- Generalize, summarize, analyze, infer, explain, inform, define, compare, contrast, invent
- Requires using the systems of language AND executive functioning processes.
- Learning Impact:
- I am a finance major and would like to start my own business. I have sketched designs for a new system that will replace how pharmacies dispense medication and need to turn my ideas and sketches into a business proposal.
- I am a medical student in my second year of medical school. While I can perform clinical tasks, listening to patients explain their concerns and taking notes at the same time is difficult.
- I am a certified plumber. My boss requires that I write a written summary at the end of each job and review the summary with each customer.
- I am a sophomore in high school. I am asked to read two books and write a research paper comparing the styles of both authors.
- I am a marketing representative. I am asked to present a PowerPoint presentation on product trends and forecast which products to promote.
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
ADHD is characterized by a pattern of behavior, present in multiple settings, that can result in performance issues in social, educational, or work settings.
Symptoms are divided into two categories of Attention and Hyperactivity & Impulsivity
Attention Focused: Difficulty Concentrating, Difficulty Filtering and Organizing Thoughts, Initiating and Completing tasks or projects; Feeling Restless; Frequently Missing Things; Forgetfulness
Hyper and Impulsive Focused: Excessive Talking, Fidgeting, Inability to Sit Still