The Mislabeled Child: Library: Attention & Motivation: Attention & Boys

| THE MISLABELED CHILD | Brock Eide, M.D., M.A. | Fernette Eide, M.D. |


	Boys and Attention

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Boys & Girls Learn
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Boys and Reading

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Gender, Listening, & "ADD"

Higher Rates of Failure for Boys

How to Avoid Failure in
the First Grade

Longer Processing Times
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Writing & Underachievement

Boys and Attention

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 8% of children or up to 15% of boys will meet criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. That's a lot boys. But because there is not medical gold standard for ADD or ADHD, and professionals must rely of subjective behavioral checklists, many boys are being mislabeled because of a failure to take into account other factors for inattentiveness.

Common Sources of MisDiagnosis

Learning-Teaching Mismatch
Unrecognized Learning Disability
Weak Auditory Attention (Visual May Be Strong)
Unrecognized Hearing or Vision Problems
Novelty Learner, Weak Rote Memory
Unable to Keep Up with Writing Demands
Motivational Problems
Longer Processing Times
Sensory Processing Behaviors

If a student is in a situation that he's not going to succeed, then he may tune out (inattention), meltdown (behavior problems), or withdraw (mood problems).

Recently, educational researchers found that one-third of the gender gap in reading (boys are behind girls) could be eliminated if the boys were taught be a male teacher. But there is a nationwide shortage of male teachers throughout K-12, this gender gap among teachers will not be resolved any time soon.

Look for Patterns

If you know a boy is having attention or work performance problems at school, look carefully for patterns of difficulty or underachievement. There are often many factors to think about but here's a list to get you started thinking...

Attention varies widely depending on subject
Attention varies depending on teacher
Likes to walk while thinking or learning
Distracted in class, but knows a lot
Lower grades because work not turned in
Unable to finish tests with essay writing
Avoids certain activities, like reading
Does worse in lecture heavy courses

The reality is that boys will have mostly female teachers throughout their K-12 education. Professional educators and medical professionals are just beginning to understand the extent of gender-related learning differences and their impact on the classroom.

ADD and ADHD labels are often given to boys when their performance (grades, written work) in the classroom doesn't match up to their potential. But there many different reasons for underachievement, and a behavioral checklist won't help you look at underlying causes.