Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder

by Edward M. Hallowell

It is struggle enough to have a learning disorder, but to have that struggle compounded by a string of invidious labels—stupid, lazy, and the like—puts one’s whole self-esteem in jeopardy. The experience of moral condemnation is so frequent among the learning disordered as to be commonplace. Indeed, it is only recently that anything like an informed, compassionate view has developed. Still, one hears snide jokes all the time in reference to this population: they are “intellectually challenged,” or they are just looking for an excuse to get better grades in school or file a discrimination grievance at work. It is worth mentioning here the moral bias in our society that often prevents the diagnosis of ADD—and other learning disorders—from being made. A streak of Puritanism runs deep within American society. Permissive and pioneering as we may be on the one hand, we are strict and conservative on the other. As much as we may be a country of mavericks and entrepreneurs, we are also a country of finger waggers and name callers. As much as we may be a country of compassion for the underdog, we are also a country that believes in self-reliance. This is apparent in the field of learning disorders. In our educational system, despite reform, the operative principle is still sink or swim. School is a fair marketplace, we seem to believe. The smart will excel. If you don’t excel, well, then you are not smart. Pretty words to the contrary, most students, parents, and teachers still see...