Comments on: ADHD and Evolution http://www.dekkerdreyer.com/blog/adhd-and-evolution/ all you can read buffet Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:53:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dekker http://www.dekkerdreyer.com/blog/adhd-and-evolution/comment-page-1/#comment-2843 Dekker Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:22:37 +0000 http://www.dekkerdreyer.com/blog/adhd-and-evolution/#comment-2843 Thanks for the input! I'm actually researching a follow up article and I really appreciate hearing about your experience with ADHD. Since I'm more of a general theorist than a specialized researcher hearing from people who have practical knowledge of the subjects I write on is crucial. Thanks for the input! I’m actually researching a follow up article and I really appreciate hearing about your experience with ADHD. Since I’m more of a general theorist than a specialized researcher hearing from people who have practical knowledge of the subjects I write on is crucial.

]]> By: DChen http://www.dekkerdreyer.com/blog/adhd-and-evolution/comment-page-1/#comment-2840 DChen Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:29:52 +0000 http://www.dekkerdreyer.com/blog/adhd-and-evolution/#comment-2840 As an adult recently diagnosed with ADHD, I completely agree with your interpretation of it being an evolutionary step forward. I come from a family of medical doctors and engineers, all 8 of them to be exact. None of them was diagnoses with attention deficit, although most of them exhibit some of the symptoms to varying degrees. Of course I do recognize that it has little or no effect on intelligence, but I'd like to see a "regular" person finish 4 (yes, four) bachelor's degrees simultaneously in just 4 years at one of the top public universities. It's true that I didn't have social life, but I never had one before it nor did I spend any significant time studying (except for 2-3 hours just before an exam). And for the first 3 years I took no medications whatsoever, but I eventually decided to take them only because my social anxiety became so severe that it started affecting my sleep and heart. I still had to attend school sometimes to submit the assignments after all. Being the only one with medical diagnosis, and coming from a family where it's extremely hard not to be overshadowed -- yet being described the "smartest", I find it hard to believe ADHD is not a normal evolutionary step. If not, and this is a remnant of caveman's adaptation to his hunting and environmental needs, maybe we should start looking for ways to "devolve". As an adult recently diagnosed with ADHD, I completely agree with your interpretation of it being an evolutionary step forward. I come from a family of medical doctors and engineers, all 8 of them to be exact. None of them was diagnoses with attention deficit, although most of them exhibit some of the symptoms to varying degrees.

Of course I do recognize that it has little or no effect on intelligence, but I’d like to see a “regular” person finish 4 (yes, four) bachelor’s degrees simultaneously in just 4 years at one of the top public universities. It’s true that I didn’t have social life, but I never had one before it nor did I spend any significant time studying (except for 2-3 hours just before an exam). And for the first 3 years I took no medications whatsoever, but I eventually decided to take them only because my social anxiety became so severe that it started affecting my sleep and heart. I still had to attend school sometimes to submit the assignments after all.

Being the only one with medical diagnosis, and coming from a family where it’s extremely hard not to be overshadowed — yet being described the “smartest”, I find it hard to believe ADHD is not a normal evolutionary step. If not, and this is a remnant of caveman’s adaptation to his hunting and environmental needs, maybe we should start looking for ways to “devolve”.

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