How to (Explain) ADHD
This educational video demystifies Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by exploring the internal experience of living with the condition. Hosted by Jessica McCabe, the video moves beyond clinical definitions to offer relatable, concrete metaphors that describe executive dysfunction, working memory challenges, and emotional dysregulation. It emphasizes that ADHD behaviors are not character flaws but rather neurological differences in how the brain regulates attention and emotion.
The content breaks down complex neurological concepts into accessible analogies, such as comparing the brain to a CEO with a bad secretary, working memory to a whiteboard that constantly needs erasing, and emotional regulation to a severe sunburn. The video addresses key themes including the myth of "attention deficit" (versus attention regulation), the invisibility of the struggle, and the strengths that often accompany ADHD brains, such as creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
For educators, this resource is invaluable for fostering empathy and understanding in the classroom. It provides a shared language for teachers and students to discuss learning differences without stigma. By framing ADHD through mechanical and situational metaphors—like a race car with bicycle brakes—it offers students with ADHD a way to articulate their experiences and helps neurotypical peers understand why certain tasks are more challenging for their classmates.
