AD/HD represents the first letters of the phrase Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Except that you can have one without the other. Well, you can have a short attention span with or without hyperactivity. That means that people with AD/HD can be easily distracted, and might also move around a lot. One way to understand AD/HD is to eavesdrop on Taya, Laura, and Mikala:

Taya was staring out the car window while her sister Laura talked to Mikala. "Taya has AD/HD," announced Laura. Taya turned to listen.

"What is AD/HD?" Mikala asked.

"I know what it is," said Taya, looking at Mikala and also at the car window behind Mikala. "It stands for Attention Deficit ... HOT DOGS!!" Taya pointed out the window just past Mikala to a hot dog cart.

Distractable, get it? (Of course, hot dogs are worthy items for our attention.)

Research about AD/HD keeps on keeping on. Great new research information is constantly available. (The article title shown here--Attention Span of a Fly--sounds like it might describes my attention span and is an example of the wide range of research being completed on attention--and also, the article title is funny.) Lots of research into attention is is underway, and it's all pretty interesting. Did you know that AD/HD is one of the most researched topics in psychology?  A recent study concludes that people with AD/HD are typically more creative than those without a diagnosis of AD/HD. (This seems kind of obvious but it's nice to have an opinion confirmed as fact.) The study citation: White & Shah, 'Personality and Individual Differences: Creative style and achievement in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder." Personality and Individual Differences, 50, p. 673-677, 2011.

To find out more about AD/HD, check out a copy of the book! If your library doesn't have a copy, you can order one through this link  and through online and regular bookstores, too.

I hope you find the book helpful, and that it makes you laugh!