ADD research
After hearing Dr. Gabor Maté interviewed on NPR recently, I immediately picked up his book “Scattered“, which has quickly become one of my favorite books on ADD. In addition to discussing some of the neurobiology (Dr. Maté claims that ADD is a miscalibration of the dopamine-receptor system due to stress in early childhood), the book gives clear importance to the emotional context within which the ADD child functions and develops. Most importantly, perhaps, he re-frames ADD in terms of development. “Attention Deficit”, he claims, is not a static disorder, but a sign that the development of the individual has been arrested. From that perspective, he provides insight into how to help continue that development, particularly in the context of emotionally supportive relationships.
