The misconception that people with ADHD lack the ability to pay attention is not true, says Sarita E. Trawick, LCSW. “The people that have ADHD often can actually hyper-focus on something that they’re interested in,” said Trawick, who sees clients in Kentucky and Oregon. Pairing an activity or area of interest with the boring or difficult task can help, she said.
The NASW-Oregon member was quoted in The Sentinel-News about breaking the stigma. Calling ADHD “dopamine deficit” may be more accurate, she said. That’s because “boredom is like death to someone who has ADHD.”