Dr. Shane Perrault Speaking on the Joy Keys Show On Breaking the Myths About ADHD

Dr. Shane Perrault will be speaking on Blog Talk Radio on the Joy Keys show on Saturday, September 5 at 11:00 Eastern on the topic of Breaking the Myths About ADHD.

Listen to the show live here.

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Dr. Shane Perrault Speaks to George Washington University

Dr. Perrault recently spoke at George Washington University, School of Ed. & Human Dev. Teacher Prep Program, to teachers, educators and administrators on the topic of “Using Multiple Intelligence to Tap into Hidden Genius of Students with ADHD.”

To request Dr. Shane Perrault for your next speaking event, contact him today.

Using Multiple Intelligence to Tap into Hidden Genius of Entrepreneurs with ADHD

Click here to take Free Multiple Intellgence Test

Years of working with clients with ADHD has taught us at that there are multiple types of intelligence.  One of the strongest predictors of success is the ability to tap into and harness your particular type of intelligence or Learning Style.

The theory of multiple intelligences was developed in 1983 by Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University. It suggests that the traditional notion of intelligence, based on I.Q. testing, is far too limited.

Instead, Dr. Gardner proposes eight different intelligences to account for a broader range of human potential in children and adults. These intelligences are:
Linguistic intelligence (”word smart”):
Logical-mathematical intelligence (”logic smart”)
Spatial intelligence (”picture smart”)
Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence (”body smart”)
Musical intelligence (”music smart”)
Interpersonal intelligence (”people smart”)
Intrapersonal intelligence (”self smart”)
Naturalist intelligence (”nature smart”)

Our schools and culture focus most of their attention on linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligence. We esteem the highly articulate or logical people of our culture.

However, we should also place equal attention on individuals who show gifts in the other intelligences: the artists, architects, musicians, naturalists, designers, dancers, therapists, entrepreneurs, and others who enrich the world in which we live.

Unfortunately, many gifted people with ADHD didn’t receive much positive reinforcement for them in school.  As kids, many of these Entrepreneurs, in  fact, ended up being labeled “learning disabled,” “ADHD (attention deficit hyper-activity disorder,” or simply underachievers, when their unique ways of thinking and learning weren’t addressed by a heavily linguistic or logical-mathematical classroom.

The theory of multiple intelligences proposes a major transformation in the way our schools are run. It suggests that teachers be trained to present their lessons in a wide variety of ways using music, cooperative learning, art activities, role play, multimedia, field trips, inner reflection, and much more.

To begin to learn more about — and to start to harness — your unique learning style, answer the questions below “true” or “false”.  (Click here to take the Test).

For a step-by-step plan and all the details for harnessing your particular type of intelligence, contact Entrepreneurs with ADHD, and recieve a Free 15 minute consult. Learn how to harness this strength in some amazing ways that will change your life at home, school and work.

You can also contact us at 301.588.4600

Back to School: Seven Non-Medication Tips to Help Your Child Tackle ADHD This Year.

 Julian was just like most other 14 year old boys — energetic, fun loving and sports-minded.Summer was about to end, and the only thing on his mind was making the football team.

He dreaded school, but was willing to do anything that would get him on the field again.

Julian did not want to re-experience last year: athletically he was on top of the world… starting in football, basketball, and baseball; academically, the world was on top of him…beleaguered with low grades, discipline problems, and missing homework assignments. Because of the latter, the school stopped him from stepping foot on the field of dreams and told him to study harder.

For Julian, it was the worst of both worlds.

Just when he thought things could not get any worse, they did. His parents enrolled him in a popular motivational tutorial program, which promised better study skills, better organizational skills and better grades. Although he didn’t like it, this was his ticket to the athletic field.

Yet after six long months, his grades had still not improved, and he was again unable to play sports. Discouraged and defeated, his confidence shrunk even further. Julian went from someone who made academic mistakes, to feeling like he was a mistake.

“Something has to give,” his parents told the ADHD Performance Clinic (APC) during the intake meeting. “We are losing him. We have tried everything, and don’t have a clue on how to help our son.”

Upon assessing him, we realized Julian did not have a motivational, organizational, or a study problem; he had an attention deficit hyperactive disorder, ADHD. Following his diagnosis, APC put together a treatment plan that addressed both his short-term and long-term needs.

To meet Julian’s short-term attention needs a physician prescribed medications to help him focus, and for his long-term attention needs we placed him on an educationally proven computer-based program for children with attention problems.

We also included parent training to reinforce behavioral changes. In all, Julian began to better understand how ADHD was impacting his life, learned how to better manage the challenges related to the disorder, and developed his ability to focus.

Twelve months later, Julian has taken control of his life and is off medications – and is doing well academically and athletically. This season his parents will proudly sit in the stands watching him play in his first high-school football game of the season.

Here are a few steps APC recommends you take to help your son or daughter tackle ADHD.

1. Become Your Child’s ADHD “Parent Advocate.” You must learn as much about ADHD as possible. Period! It is critically important to understand the challenges your child may face and the resources available. Know the teachers, the treatment team, and the law. I recommend the following book to any would-be parent advocate, Special Needs Advocacy Resource Book, by Michelle Davis.

3. Develop a Schedule, and Strive for Consistency and Structure. Beginning a week or two before school starts, re-adjust bed and wake-up times. With young elementary children, eliminate the fear of the unknown by introducing them to their new school, teacher and bus schedule before the first day.

Kids with ADHD function much better if they know what to expect and experience few surprises. Let your child get comfortable with the new supplies, organizational and/or attention training systems they will be using this year.

4. Make Meaningful Behavioral Changes. As you well know, children with ADHD are frequently impulsive and often seek immediate gratification. Accordingly, they tend to do best when given more immediate and frequent feedback and consequences. You might also consider using incentives before punishment, and striving for consistency. Don’t personalize your child’s problems or disorder. Inattentive and impulsive behaviors are common symptoms of ADHD, which experts conservatively estimate affect between 5 to 7 percent of school age children.

I know it can be frustrating, but let your child know that whatever the school year may hold, “we’ll get through it no matter what.” Let him know that you are in his corner… fighting with him, cheering for him and proud of him. Also, discover and teach him about some of the many extremely successful adults with ADHD, see   www.SchwabLearning.org  for some examples.

6. Celebrate Every Success! Our kids will hear plenty about their flaws and their failures… so make sure you celebrate their successes, even small ones.

At APC, we have found ADHD doesn’t have to be a struggle! These seven steps will equip you to begin to discover and cultivate your child’s creativity and drive so that they successfully tackle ADHD, and maximize their personal potential on and off the field.

For more information contact us at www.ADHDPC.com, or 301.588.4600.

Shane Perrault is the Principal Psychologist at the ADHD Performance Clinic, and the only certified Play Attention provider in the Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. area.

5 Tools Every Entrepreneur with ADHD Should Be Using to Get — and Stay — Organized…

By Vernestine Laughinghouse, CPO and Shane Perrault, PhD

Many people think that getting organized is cleaning up, but that actually couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, people who are truly organized never need to clean up, because they have a defined method for managing every item they handle. Sound confusing?

Luckily, it’s really not.

Simply stated, being organized means that you have a defined process for dealing with everything that you encounter in life. At the office, this most often applies to pieces of paper, e-mails, voice mails, and any other information that is passed to you physically in some way. If you don’t have a defined process for managing this information (especially in paper form), then you probably do one of four things:

1. Stack it in a pile
2. Stuff it in a drawer
3. Spread it across your desk
4. A combination of all three

Chances are, taking the above actions works all right for you most of the time. You can probably usually find what you need. You probably feel as if, for the most part, you have a handle on where everything is.

That may be true, but the fact is that your desk is still cluttered, which contributes to feelings of being overwhelmed and overworked, and who needs that?

Barbara Hemphill, author of Taming the Paper Tiger at Home, says that “clutter is postponed decisions,” and she is right. Because even if you think that you like your piles of paperwork, the fact is that you will ultimately need to sort through them and make all of the associated decisions.

Instead of wasting time chasing paper around your desk, end the cycle before it starts by creating a decision-making process for every time that you encounter something new:

Five Great Rules for Getting (and Staying) Organized:

1. If you are never going to need it again, then Discard or Recycle it
2. If you need to ask someone for help with it, then Delegate it
3. If there is something you need to do about it, then Take Immediate Action
4. If there is something you need to do about it, but it can wait for later, then File it for Follow-Up
5. If you may need it later, then Put it in a Reference File

Taking one of these five steps will help you to get more organized!

For information about the Getting Organized (GO)™ System Seminar contact us at 301.588.4600

Nutrition as an ADHD Treatment Alternative: The Remedy May Be in the Kitchen.

Written by Shane Perrault, PhD
  
If you are an Entrepreneur with ADHD, you are probably constantly looking for ways to help yourself focus, control your impulses, and make your company succeed.

Using drugs to treat ADHD should only be used as a last resort, and rarely are the best long term solution.  Among non-drug options for managing ADHD, here are Five proven diet strategies:

 Test for gluten sensitivity:In the general population, only 1% of people are sensitive to gluten. However, research has found the sensitivity rates to be much higher in people with ADHD. Your family doctor can check for gluten sensitivity with a blood test. If you are gluten-sensitive, consider removing glutens from your diet. In some cases this can produce dramatic and almost immediate results. Glutens are found in wheat, rye, and barley.

 Avoid high-mercury fish:Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury, which can zap your ability to think and concentrate. These potential side effects occur with much lower levels of exposure than for adults. If you have ADHD, you should to avoid high mercury fish. That includes shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tile-fish.

 Add multi-vitamins and Intracellular Vitamin Analysis: While everyone should take a multivitamin, it is especially important people with ADHD. In addition, Intracellular Vitamin Analysis (a test your family doctor can perform), can provide a better idea of exactly which vitamins and minerals you might need to supplement.

 Add DHA supplements: Studies have found that ADHD is much more common in men with low levels of DHA, an omega-3 essential fatty acid that plays a key role in brain function. DHA supplements derived from marine algae, have been found to be quite effective for people with ADHD. Research suggests 400 mg per day are optimal.

 Consider other brain-specific nutrients:Here are five supplements (besides DHA) that should serve as the foundation of an effective ADHD diet: N-acetyl-cysteine, Phosphatidylserine, Alpha lipoic acid, Coenzyme Q-10, and Ginkgo Biloba. All five have been clinically proven to protect the brain and enhance brain function, and I have seen patients enjoy great success using them in my own private practice.

 The Bottom Line
Only your family doctor and you can determine the best way to deal with your ADHD. But these top five nutritional tips may be able to give you the help they need to concentrate and focus more easily and succeed in your business. 

ADHD Assessment: Are you (or an employee) “dis-organized,” or do you have ADHD?

Helping yourself (or an adult employee with ADHD) struggle with “disorganization”, or ADHD can be a challenge. However, determining which one of these is causing the inefficiency can go a long way in your getting the most of their ability.

Determining if a client is “un-organized” is fairly simple. Be around them! On the other hand, determining if a client has (ADHD), and knowing what to do if they have ADHD is not simple at all.

What is ADHD?
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is currently defined as a neurological (brain) disorder.  What is important to know is that ADHD affects both children and adults. ADHD symptoms are characterized by

• disorganization
• inattention
• impulsivity
• hyperactivity.

ADHD is an unusual disorder in that many of its key symptoms are experienced occasionally by the entire population. For instance, who hasn’t forgotten a date, lost something, made an inappropriate comment, daydreamed, made a late payment, or lost track of time.

Here is a test help you distinguish if you (or an employee) are “un-organized,” or actually have ADHD:

Are/Do They…

1. Disorganized?
2. Chronically procrastinate or have trouble getting started?
3. Easily bored?
4. Have many projects going simultaneously, and have trouble with follow-through?
5. Sometimes over focuses on details, at other times appears distracted by everything?
6. Creative, intuitive, and highly intelligent?
7. Impatient; exhibit a low tolerance for frustration?
8. Say what comes to mind, without necessarily considering the timing or appropriateness of the remark?
9. Underachievers, regardless of how much ability they possess?
10. Have trouble going through established channels, following proper procedure?
11. Always on the go as if driven by a motor?
12. Seek out fast paced, exciting activities?
13. Demonstrate an inability to get things done unless there is an absolute deadline?
____________________________________________________________________
GUIDELINE FOR ADHD TEST INTERPRETATION: Since most everyone exhibits these characteristics periodically, when evaluating these behaviors have your client consider the frequency of which these characteristics are exhibited: “once in a while,” “often” or “frequently”. If a their behaviors are “frequently” consistent with 8 or more of these traits, then you are advised to have them seek a professional opinion. (Only a trained professional can truly determine if a person has ADHD, and provide treatment.)

Seven Habits of Highly Successful Entrepreneurs with ADHD.

By Shane Perrault, PhD

So You just found out you (or an employee) have ADHD, or are ADHDish (that is, you have a few symptoms of ADHD). What’s do you do now?

First, don’t panic!

Actually, if you are an entrepreneur you may want to celebrate. Many extraordinary contributions have been made to society by people with ADHD. (See SchwabLearning.org, for a list of “Successful People with ADHD.” This site was set up by Charles Schwab, who has ADHD himself.)

Also, realize creativity and innovation are hallmarks of people with ADHD. For example, if Edison didn’t have ADHD, we might be reading by brighter candle light. So there definitely is a Silver lining here… 

To help you or your employee manage ADHD, and maximize your ability, we recommend the following:

1. Get an ADHD Coach? Because true ADHD is usually neurological, and many ADHDer’s will have difficulties in these areas despite a strong desire and attempts to overcome it.

Traditional methods of coaching often will not work with someone who has ADHD! ADHD coaches offer techniques geared toward working with the unique brain wiring of individuals with ADHD.

I recommend a coach who uses a strength based approach that also employs data driven assessment tools that incorporate objective data about their own ADHD traits and strengths, individual learning style, performance and interactions with others.

2. Stop denigrating yourself, and start celebrating yourself. First, you don’t have a choice of your genetics. ADHD is an inherited, and “will power” alone has little chance against genetics. Next, be happy you don’t have a choice of your genetics. Creativity and “out-of-the-box” thinking, intuition, and resilience are also a genetic traits frequently linked to ADHD.

Believe it or Not,people with ADHD are 300% more likely to start their own business (see The Davinci Method, by Garret Loporto), and many business leaders have ADHD. To name a few accomplished business people with ADHD:

• Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Airlines.
• John T. Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems.
• Ingvar Kamprad, Swedish founder and chairman of IKEA stores, states he adapted the inner workings of his business to compensate for his ADHD and dyslexia.
• David Neeleman founder and CEO of Jet Blue Airways.
• Paul Orfalea the founder and chairperson of Kinko’s.
• Charles Schwabthe founder, chairperson, and CEO of the Charles Schwab Corporation, the largest brokerage firm in the U.S.

3. Learn more about your unique positive traits, and develop the specialized skill of harnessing and leveraging your unique creativity and positive strengths.

4. Educate yourself and your employee about ADHD. There are many good ADHD books, websites and support groups out there. For example, “Driven to Distraction,” “The Davinci Nation Method” and “You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy” are a few of my favorite books. Also, CHADD.org has a list of support groups and self-help tips and resources.

5. Help yourself or your employee with ADHD accept that they have a need for stimulation. This need fuels their creativity and allows them to be highly effective in high-risk/stress situations. Select activities where these ADHD trait can have a positive impact on your company’s bottom line.

6. Consult a nutritionist who specializes in ADHD. Numerous studies indicate that artificial flavors, colors, and other additives can increase aggression and hyperactive behavior. Avoid sweets and yeast products, and eat nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day.

A nutritionist specializing in ADHD can also help you eliminate other foods you may be sensitive to from your diets, and recommend specific nutrient supplements.

7.  Have Fun! Work out, Travel, Friends and Family, Entertainment, and more.

Consider Yoga or Transcendental Meditation, TM. Both increase blood flow to the brain, and that’s important because studies show is people with ADHD frequently have reduced blood flow to the brain.”

 Get your  Balanced Life on…Creativity, Productivity and the Universe insist on it. People with ADHD need Balance to stay outside-of-the box!

These 7 steps will help your or your employees maximize your creativity and other strengths, and realize your personal potential in a fashion that positively impacts their company’s bottom line.

Written by, Shane K. Perrault, PhD who is the Coach and Psychologist at Entrepreneurs with ADHD.

Should you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 301.588.4600.