ADD and diving

[Walt1957]

I was asked an interesting question today. I have a son who is ADHD and someone at work asked me if he could dive if he wanted, or does ADD or ADHD make it unsafe for a person to dive. I am just curious what the thoughts here might be ... I know my answer, and as far as the ADD side it is based on facts. I'm curious what knowledge and misconceptions will show up here, or perceptions about aspects I am not thinking about. Would ADD make a person a better, or worse buddy, or would it be something that has no overall effect?

 

[seadoggirl]

I have a dive buddy with ADHD and he is an excellent diver. I trust him with my life, under and above water. Just my opinion. I am not a medical professional but he is an excellent diver.

 

[spectrum]

I do know that my OW instructor used to run theraputic scuba dives for an ADD support network. They were done in the shallows of a local pond, much like discover dives. Giving the group something "life and death" to focus on brought out the best in them.

Pete

 

[ScubaCatgirl]

I totally agree with the others. ADHD or ADD would not affect a diver's ability in the least, but as stated before, this is just my opinion & I'm certainly not a doc.

 

[desiredbard]

ADHD is a modern day sickness to keep psychiatrist away from unemployment benefits.

Now I do not mean get the beltbuckles out, but when I was a kid i got the odd correctional slap if i did something bad.

Nowadays that incorrect, forbidden, one has to negotioate and discuss with the little brats.
Their spoiled rotten know no boundaries and can do what they want because a correction by means of a physical warning cannot be given.

No wonder half the world sufefrs adhd

Now for those who really do i appologise, but since this modern parenting is in swing there is an adhd epidemic.

I dont have any kids myself, was brought up to strict, but my parents did a good job although i will never admit that. Nothing wrong with oldfashioned values as be home at 2000 or 2100 hours at a certain age etc etc.

Now i'm not a psychiatrist, but the next time your son is behaving like a right little *******s, give him a whack on the head (do not damage him but enough to warn him he crossed a/the line) lets see how long he ADHD's afterwards.

 

[desiredbard]

I do know that my OW instructor used to run theraputic scuba dives for an ADD support network. They were done in the shallows of a local pond, much like discover dives. Giving the group something "life and death" to focus on brought out the best in them.

Pete

And if they misbehave you fold their reg-hoses double for a couple of seconds till the calm down.
To bad thet ADHD epidemic did not break out in my day, could have gotten my open water on community costs

 

[diverdown247]

I took a course on childhood psychological diseases last year. One thing that was taught about ADHD is that when a person has something that "calms" their brain and allows them to focus the symptoms subside, but once that something is removed the symptoms will return.

Scuba diving may be that "calming" something that causes focus for a specific individual, but won't be universal and would have to be applied on a case-by-case basis. The only true way to know is try and see. Start very slow and make sure to spend plenty of time in the pool before going open water. Just remember that there is increased risk of panic with an individual who has ADHD.

 

[RV]

if he's drugged then no

 

[Walt1957]

I took a course on childhood psychological diseases last year. One thing that was taught about ADHD is that when a person has something that "calms" their brain and allows them to focus the symptoms subside, but once that something is removed the symptoms will return. Scuba diving may be that "calming" something that causes focus for a specific individual, but won't be universal and would have to be applied on a case-by-case basis. The only true way to know is try and see.

This is very true. The variables being the degree of distractibility, and the amount of interest. ADD, unlike many illnesses, has degrees of distractibility, so there is no single answer for how much attention is possible. This is why people don't understand how a person with ADD can pay attention at work, etc yet be so easily distracted at other times. It will also vary even more when tired than most people.

Just remember that there is increased risk of panic with an individual who has ADHD.

I am not saying you are wrong, but that is one I have never read anywhere. This is one thing that disqualifies my son, though I have never know it to be an ADHD symptom.

 

[Walt1957]

BTW, does anybody know of any way to overcome possible panic as a risk, or is it just something that has to be considered a permanant disqualification? Is it something we out-grow? My son has some desire to dive, but we as parents, and he as a mostly responsible child agree that he would be too likely to panic.