Learning to drive with ADHD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our psychiatrist said that driving without medication should be a non starter for our teen boy.

Does that mean no night driving for your DS?

[Anonymous]

There is some evidence that driving a car with a manual transmission is better for drivers with ADHD. We are considering this for our DS (although will give him a chance to learn automatic first). Worth looking into!

[Anonymous]

Age can be a factor in why people with ADHD have more accidents. A kid who is fine at 20, may not be as safe a driver at 45. Even if your kid has no issues now or in the near future, I’d make sure they’re aware of the fact that this could change during their lifetime imo.

[Anonymous]

It’s amazing how a couple extra years can help. My DD learned at 19, with lessons from a non-parent professional, always on meds. At 21 she is driving herself everywhere safely!

[Anonymous]

I think people need to be aware that inattentive ADHD drivers will have very different (and probably more serious) challenges than hyperactive ADHD drivers. And of course it depends on the degree of severity of the disorder.

My severely inattentive ADHD kid, who cannot multitask, has low processing speed and poor reflexes, is an unsafe driver, there's no two ways about it. He knows not to drive by himself, and never at night. I keep wishing for safer self-driving cars for this population, otherwise it's Uber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on your kid. For many with ADHD (myself included) there is finally enough going on to stimulate me. You really do have to pay attention to everything (what every single car around you is doing or may do, what is happening two lights ahead of you, pedestrians and bikers, road signs, etc.) and if you can blast energetic music, it's like medicine for the brain.

I’m 38 & diagnosed adhd last year. This makes so much sense to me 😭😭

[Anonymous]

Counterituitivelt, some people with adhd drive better with a small distraction like music.