Book Review: The Gift of ADHD by Lara Honos-Webb

Rating:  3 Stars

For those of us who are depressed about our child's ADHD, this book's title is enticing.  However, it does come from an unusual and sometimes inconsistent perspective.  The basic premise of this book is that ADHD is a behavioral disorder caused by the individual's response to their environment, and their environment's response to them.  With this basis, the author's logical conclusion is that the medical approach is wrong, that behavioral approaches can cure ADHD behaviors, although ADHD behaviors are just different, not necessarily wrong.

I happen to disagree with this perspective.  There is so much science these days that indicates that ADHD is not a purely behavioral issue.  While behavioral techniques are helpful for managing symptoms, they are sometimes not enough.  The book's apparent disregard for medical science is difficult to wade past.

However, I do agree that ADHD as a diagnosis can become a negative label, that patients and parents have to fight to have the strengths of ADHD recognized in face of the difficulties in their environment.  To this end, this book provides a bounty of behavioral exercises that you can try with your child to help them and you recognize and cultivate some of the strengths children with ADHD often have.  Some of them make more sense than others.  The author acknowledges that any given child may only find a few of the exercises helpful.

If you are looking for ideas for how to raise your child's self esteem, this book may be a helpful supplemental resource.  Just be aware of its flaws.

Everything ADHD Medical Disclaimer
Everything ADHD Privacy Policy