What are the behaviors that come to mind when you think about a child with ADHD? Prior to writing my book Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain, I surveyed some moms and dads in our school district and asked them what came to mind when they thought about a child with ADHD, and most of their responses included behaviors like “impulsive, can’t sit still, energetic, fidgets.” Although this was not a formal research study with hundreds of participants, it makes a point that when most people think about a child with ADHD, they relate it to the external impulsive and hyperactive behaviors.

Having a child with ADHD forced me to change my perception of what I thought I knew about the disorder, which was the outward symptoms of inattention, daydreaming, hyperactivity and impulsivity. But what are the reasons for these behaviors, and what can’t we observe? Most of us may remember the........

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