Recently I came across a post I wrote about 10 years ago.
It set me to thinking about why students with ADHD often perform below their intellectual level at school and thereafter in the workplace?
I was originally inspired to write this post after reading an article by Annie Murphy Paul with the title, "Has kindergarten become too academic?"
In America kindergarten children are sometimes asked the following question to test their maths ability.
"Miguel has two shelves. Miguel has six books . . . How many different ways can Miguel put books on the two shelves? Show and tell how you know."
They are then graded as "novice," "apprentice," "practitioner" or "expert."
According to the DOE (Dept. of Education), an "expert" would draw a diagram with a key, show all five combinations, write number sentences for each equation, and explain his or her conclusions using mathematical terms. These skills would put them at Gr 2 level. I don't know if this is even realistic in South African terms.
I hope that my reactions to the question will help teachers who work with ADHD children, understand why we struggle with maths.
This applies to children for whom English is not their home language as well.
When I read the question I panicked and went blank! Now I know this will make many of you shake your heads in disbelief. It is so simple, isn't it?
Well it wasn't for me because my thought processes complete with vivid images galloped along like this: 
The 2 shelves:
- Where were they?
- How were they balanced?
- How would the books be stacked without bookends?
- How wide and deep were the shelves?
The 6 books:
- Am I being asked whether they would stand upright or lying down?
- Should they be at an angle?
Okay, by now you are probably roaring with laughter. I am not remotely stupid but because I did not read the question correctly I got the wrong end of the stick - totally. I panicked, went blank and was unable to even start answering the question.
Fortunately I have now learned to read and listen more carefully, before I put fingers to the keyboard. At school I would not have had this opportunity, or known that what I was doing was wrong.
This is one of the consequences of untreated ADHD. Due to our distraction, we mis-read and mis-interpret what we read and what we hear.
We either go blank because we are anxious or we gaily answer the question because we think we have understood it. We write reams and reams of really insightful stuff ..... except it isn't what was asked!
We provide the right answer to the wrong question.