Today I’m bringing you my conversation with Dr. Ned Hallowell, who has spent the past four decades helping thousands of adults and children live happy and productive lives through his strength-based approach to neurodiversity, and has ADHD and dyslexia himself. During our time together, we talked about Ned’s strength-based approach to ADHD and how it can change the outlook for someone with ADHD, his thoughts about ADHD medication, what finding the “right difficult” means and how parents can help their kids find theirs, and how to create safe and stellar environments for our children to thrive as themselves.

 Edward (Ned) Hallowell, M.D. is a board-certified child and adult psychiatrist and world authority on ADHD. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Tulane Medical School, and was a Harvard Medical School faculty member for 21 years. He is the Founder of The Hallowell ADHD Centers in Boston MetroWest, New York City, San Francisco, Palo Alto and Seattle.

Dr Hallowell is a New York Times bestselling author and has written 20 books on multiple psychological topics. As the host of the twice-weekly Distraction podcast, Dr. Hallowell explores with guests how to better connect with others and how each of us can implement strategies that can turn modern problems into new-found strengths. 

Things you’ll learn from this episode

• What inspired Ned Hallowell to write his new book ADHD 2.0
• How having a strengths-based approach to ADHD can change the outlook for someone with this diagnosis
• What VAST is and how it relates to ADHD
• Ned’s take on and approach to ADHD medication
• What the vestibulocerebellar system is and how exercises and other strategies targeting it support kids with ADHD
• What finding the “right difficult” means and ideas for parents to help their kids find theirs
• How we can create environments that truly support our kids in being the best version of themselves

Resources mentioned for Ned Hallowell’s ideas on supporting children with ADHD

• Dr. Edward (Ned) Hallowell’s website
• Dr. Hallowell: Wonderful World of Different podcast
• ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction – from Childhood Through Adulthood by Edward M. Hallowell, John J. Ratey, et al.
• Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder by Edward M. Hallowell M.D. and John J. Ratey M.D.

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