Hyperfocus

Why can some people with AD/HD focus intently on an activity when AD/HD is described as an “attention deficit?”  The answer is hyperfocus, or the tendency to become absorbed in tasks that are particularly stimulating or rewarding.  AD/HD is more appropriately described as a condition in which individuals have difficulty regulating their attention; though they may have difficulty focusing on, organizing and completing certain tasks, they are often able to focus intently on activities that interest and engage them.

 

While the ability to hyperfocus and block out extraneous sights and sounds can at times produce positive outcomes, if not managed properly it can also produce negative results; for example, a person can become so engrossed in an activity that he or she inadvertently neglects other commitments or relationships.  When this occurs, school and work performance can suffer, and relationships become strained.

 

The following are strategies designed to help parents and adults put hyperfocus to good use.

 

Parents: 

• Set firm time limits around activities in which your child tends to hyperfocus (e.g. watching television, playing video games, computer use, etc.)  If the child is old enough, it may also help to sit down with your child, discuss the issue, and work together to establish these time limits.
• When necessary, provide verbal or physical reminders to move on to another task.  Sometimes verbal direction just doesn’t cut it; for example, telling your child to turn off a video game may very well go in one ear and out the other, so to speak.  You may need to give a tap on the shoulder or even stand directly between your child and the video screen to get the child’s attention and him or her shift to another activity.
• Help your child find areas of interest and motivation (e.g. reading, crafts, physical exercise) outside the things on which he or she tends to hyperfocus.  You can also meet with teachers to discuss ways to make school lessons more engaging; for example, rather than completing a worksheet on a topic, your child may be more interested in a hands on approach to learning (e.g. building and explaining a shadowbox).

 

Adults:

• Like children, adults can also hyperfocus on their interests. Avoid this by limiting the time you engage in activities that exclude you from other obligations and the outside world. Figure out a predetermined amount of time to engage in the activity (e.g. the length of a particular television show), and stick to it.
• Establish cues (e.g. watch alarm, phone alert) to remind you when it’s time to take a break from an activity.
• Try to match your career to your interests and strengths. Chose a career path consistent with what you tend to hyperfocus on; this way, you are using your tendency to hyperfocus to your advantage.

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