This is one of the things that can really confuse people about Attention Deficit Disorder. Your child can get so wrapped up in something - like a video game or a book - that they totally tune out the world around them. This is called hyper-focus, and is actually a symptom of ADD.
Parents think that if their child can maintain focus on some things (like that video game or book) then they can focus equally well on others (like school work). And, the thinking goes, if the child can focus on anything at all, then he must not have Attention Deficit Disorder.
Here’s the error in that line of thinking: the ability or inability to focus on something isn’t quite the issue here. More to the point is the amount of control that a person has on whether or not to pay attention. This is at the heart of ADD. There is rarely a conscious effort made on whether or not to focus or pay attention; it just happens. If ADDers could control their attention, they wouldn’t have ADD.
Slipping into that book or game or slipping away from class is not something that was planned and decided on; it just happens. Really.
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