Do you remember the boy during your school days that could not seem to sit still? He also had one heck of a time paying attention. Words were used to describe him such as lazy, rebellious, out-of-control, underachieving and constantly distracted. This student earned frequent flier miles to the principal’s office. He often got himself into even deeper trouble on the way down the hall. Does this description bring any names and faces to mind? Perhaps it was even you!

There are many causes for student misbehavior. One is poor self-esteem. Another is frustration over frequent failure. It is easier just to give up than to admit you are stupid. It could be a divorce or death in the family. Perhaps it is just that parents are too busy or self-absorbed to give the student the attention he or she needs.

Still other students do not do well in school because the instructional system in place does not fit their learning needs.

Now please do not get me wrong. There are occasionally students who are willfully disobedient. I would maintain, however, that these students are not large in number. It is amazing how the behavior of even these students improves when an effective teacher is in control of the ship. 

A more recent discovery related to classroom problems is some young people suffer from an illness that makes it very difficult to succeed in school without deliberate interventions. More and more of these students are being accurately diagnosed today. This is due to an improved understanding of the brain. Many of these students now are prescribed help for what is called an executive functioning disorder.

Such a disorder really is a chemical imbalance that most professionals believe has a genetic root. It can be a great relief to parents to have a correct diagnosis made. Then they can get on with finding a way to treat the illness. With improvements in treatment options available now, such children can find great success in life.

Executive function disorder is a large umbrella under which such illnesses as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder), Tourettes Syndrome, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), bi-polar disorder, and Aspergers Syndrom, to mention a few, reside. Though each illness has its special quirks, they share some similar symptoms.

The beauty about the improvement in medical advances in this field is that kids and parents are no longer blamed for problems outside of their control. Instead professionals now work with families to find the best treatment options and help them implement them. This takes away a lot of the guilt, shame and self-recrimination that comes from having a disorder that causes learning problems.

This is a little like finding out your child has diabetes after a long bout with illnesses. It is not a happy finding, but it allows the family to work together with the doctor to find the solution that will help the child live the fullest life possible.

Interestingly, children who suffer from executive functioning disorders often have above average ability. That is what makes it particularly frustrating when they are not able to concentrate and maintain their attention in school. How much potential has been lost over the years because such people were only thought to be troublemakers and their families miserable failures?

One more point needs to be made on this subject. The earlier children are accurately diagnosed with their ailment the better their chance for succeeding despite the disability.

Information on executive functioning disorders is becoming more and more available. As improvements in treatments are made, the prospect of millions of children’s lives improving is exciting to consider. This is exciting for more than the effected families. When more people are able to fully utilize their unique gifts and abilities, it improves the quality of life for everyone.

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