ADHD comes with certain strengths and weaknesses that have made me who I am, and I wouldnt trade that for anything., Center for the NBAs Los Angeles Clippers He was a seriously dyslexic child who was called slow and he still finds reading and writing laborious. "Adam Comrie was saying the wrong things and doing the wrong things. Patrick Dempsey is an American actor famed for his role in the TV medical drama Greys Anatomy. He had trouble in school due to dyslexia and dyspraxia a condition that impairs his ability to handwrite and tie shoelaces. If I mess up, I mess up. As a child, she struggled to read and believed that she was stupid. She was diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade, and graduated from high school with a D average. Because differences are our greatest strength. Kim Comrie was all set to take him home with her before Storm general manager/coach Jason Brooks offered to take him in. Comrie took another step towards improving his situation one week after moving in with Brooks when he stood in the Storm dressing room and told his teammates. 47 Newsy Lalonde When setting out to make this list I knew it would be skewed towards more recent players. Get a free issue and free ADDitude eBook, plus save 42% off the cover price. And this list proves that sometimes what makes us different can be the thing that helps us succeed. Often, however, elite athletes cant get proper treatment and care due to lack of knowledge and stigma, said study author Dr. Doug Hyun Han of Chung Ang University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea. His story recently (8/4/09) featured on TV on ESPN60 (www.espn60.com), in Outside Magazine (9/09) and in ESPN The Magazine (9/7/09) (www.espn.com), Licensed Clinical Psychologist and leader, author and pioneer in use of QEEG/Neurofeedback, QEEG: FDA Approved, non-invasive, office-based diagnostic determines specific subtypes of ADD/ADHD, Aspergers, Autism, Neurologist reviews the multi-lead, full EEG to rule out organic problems, Subtypes mean better treatment choices, such as AAP Approved, non-drug Neurofeedback whenever possible, Less expensive, longer acting and more thorough than other diagnostics and treatments. That stuck with me. The right Parietal area of the brain is related to many of our social and emotional functions. He struggled with undiagnosed ADD and dyslexia as a child. He repeated fourth grade three times, and didnt learn to read until he was 12. Whether its famous athletes with learning disabilities or historical figures with learning disabilities, this list will help your kids understand that theyre not alone in their struggles and will foster hope for their future goals. Comrie, 19, agreed to go public with his ADHD because he wants others to know it doesn't stop you from chasing your dreams. In adults it's a little lower, around 4.5 per cent. Up early every day, breakfast, then the long drive in from Listowel. "ADHD doesn't only affect you, but the people around you too," he said. She is also dyslexic. He has yet to sign with the Florida Panthers, who do know about his ADHD. Does a Dog's Head Shape Predict How Smart It Is? Delos Cosgrove is CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, inventor of medical devices, and a former cardiac surgeon. Hockey Player with ADHD Comes Out The defenceman was having trouble caring, focusing and getting motivated Posted May 16, 2011 In January last year, Tony But when he's not on his medication he just does these ridiculous, outrageous things that he has no control over," his mom said. It gave me self-esteem and focus. Adam Comrie has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurobiological disorder usually thought of as a childhood problem that affects a person's ability to regulate attention, thought, concentration, emotions and behaviour. He struggled in school because he didnt know how to read. Everything I had worked for was going down the drain, Gatlin recalls. Of course, top athletes need to be physically and genetically blessed and possess the talent and discipline to train hard. 1. Everything happens instantaneously. Id rather people know I have ADD than just think Im nuts, he laughs. The health and medical related resources on this website are provided solely for informational and educational purposes and are not a substitute for a professional diagnosis or for medical or professional advice. While he doesn't mention it, his mom feels the ADHD might have had something to do with an ugly incident in Saginaw last year where Comrie shot a puck into the crowd after his team was scored on. hockey). He struggled with reading and writing due to dyslexia. But when he's not on his medication he just does these ridiculous, outrageous things that he has no control over," his mom said. Channing Tatum is an American movie star. It took a lot of courage to do that and we were happy that he could trust us." We are higher income, and there's no question attention is a key part of what these athletes do. Recent statistics put out by Major League Baseball show the incidence of ADHD among their ranks is twice as high as in the general adult population, at about 9 percent versus 4.4 percent in the 14-44 age range (National Institute of Mental Health study, 2006. But earlier this season Comrie had stopped taking his medication regularly because of the side effects, which included lack of sleep, reduced appetite and an upset stomach. He says he was out of control in school due to ADHD until he was prescribed medication. Impulsive behaviour is a frequent symptom. These advantages can include: an ability to multitask, a propensity to thrive in situations of chaos, creativity, non-linear thinking, an adventurous spirit, resilience, high energy, risk taking, calm under pressure, and the capacity for hyper focus in something that fascinates you (the term hyper-focus comes up often in my interviews with ADHDers). As a parent I don't care if he plays pro hockey, but I care that he doesn't kill himself," she said over the phone from Virginia, where she is an administrator at an elementary school. Then, during his freshman year at the University of Tennessee, he tested positive for a banned drug and was barred from competition for two years. If it wasnt for football Id probably be working in a saw mill in Iola, Wisconsin, says Dave, who struggled in school. With sports stars like Terry Bradshaw and Pete Rose leading the way, these rising athletes have stepped forward to share their personal journeys with ADHD. "There had been a noticeable change in my personality. William ORee was raised in a large family in I am currently working on a book for Penguin, titled, The ADHD ADDvantage: What You Thought Was A Diagnosis May Be Your Greatest Strength. He clearly exhibits all of the traits, but contrary to current medical opinion, never saw it as a disability. Billy Blanks is a world-class martial artist and an actor in action films. Chuck Close is a photo-realist artist and one of the most celebrated artists in the world today. Bernhardt said somewhere between five per cent and 12 per cent of children suffer from ADHD. Its a win-win, and something worth exploring as we develop, educate and treat the next generation of champions. He became very depressed and wouldn't - couldn't - go to school. She had low grades in high school because she had so much trouble reading due to dyslexia. Bobby Hull "We all really respected that. There are three forms of the disorder. He thought they made him lose weight and feel fatigued. "ADHD doesn't only affect you, but the people around you too," he said. Ingvar Kamprad is the Swedish founder of IKEA, one of the largest furniture stores in the world. Does Kaman have second thoughts about revealing his ADD to his friends and fans? WebOklahoma football falls short, but Erick Wren stands tall with his learning disability Video: Paul Rabil, World-Famous Lacrosse Player, Opens Up Learning and Thinking Differently Video: Michelle Carter wins Olympic gold with dyslexia and ADHD Skaters With Learning Disabilities and ADHD Take the Ice at Winter Olympics Michael Phelps. His book My Dyslexia reveals he was exiled to the dummy class in school because he did not learn to read until he was 11. Let me emphasize that Im not opposed to meds in severe cases, but other examples of stimulant-free athletic greatness abound in ADHDers. "I came up because I knew I had to. "As a parent you just think it's a matter of your child developing at a different level. John Irving is a novelist and Academy Award-wining screenwriter who is famous for The World According to Garp and The Cider House Rules. He talks candidly about his ADHD in his autobiography, No Limits: The Will To Succeed. The disorder affects millions of people and is treatable with medication. He has always struggled with reading, due to dyslexia that was not diagnosed until he was 37. You just react. It also makes perfect sense that many with ADHD turn to athletics. Luckily, her husband, former hockey pro and ESPN sportscaster Ray Ferraro, proved to be the perfect coach for her new endeavor. Shes had ADHD since she was a Adam Comrie coming out with his ADHD condition. He struggled in school with dyslexia. At seven, while playing outside his home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he started a fire that grew out of control; the fire department had to put it out. 3.

OCD and ADHD haven't stopped Justin Timberlake from "Bringing Sexy Back." While he doesn't often speak publicly about his conditions, the sup His mom took him to hospital and a new, more productive, medication was prescribed. or short shifts (i.e. His parents called him lazy and stupid and he says he was grounded for most of high school. Winkler didnt recognize his dyslexia until he was 31. Comrie played two seasons with the Saginaw Spirit before being traded to Guelph last off-season. Jeff Hamilton writes about the challenges of living with Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). So the idea that we would have a higher incidence rate (of ADHD) than the general rate is really not that surprising.. Youve got to have poise under pressure, Dave told me. Caitlyn, the worlds most famous transgender woman, had trouble in school with reading and writing and was diagnosed with dyslexia in junior high. And no wonder, says Stabeno, himself the father of two sons with ADD. WebThe famous hockey players list goes further on to include outstanding players like Dominik Hasek, Guy Lafleur, Scott Stevens, Mark Messier, Jacques Plante, Glenn Hall, and so on. Sure, its been hard for me sometimes, but I dont dwell on it, he says. Adam Comrie coming out with his ADHD condition. When I needed to focus, Id think about a college friend of mine who had told me she had ADD and was going to law school, he says. Cammi Granato is a two-time Olympian in womens ice hockey and a member of the International Hockey Hall of Fame. I may never be the best sportscaster out there, but life isnt about being the best, with or without ADHD. Everyone messes up. "There had been a noticeable change in my personality. Comrie is focused on helping the Storm and earning a professional contract. Underachieved in college baseball first few years. Media inquiries:media@understood.org(preferred) or646-757-3100. He is also a slow reader, he flunked English twice, and had extreme difficulty taking notes in class due to dyslexia. "It's been tough, let me tell you," said Kim Comrie, a single mom.Heidi Bernhardt is the executive director of the ADHD advocacy and education organization Centre For ADD/ADHD Advocacy, Canada. Having ADD can actually be an advantage in certain sports for ADHD children, says Mike Stabeno, author of The ADHD Affected Athlete. On the contrary, he says his condition fed his love of track. The first game of ice hockey was played on 3 March 1875 in Canada. short and intense bursts of attention. He has been playing much better on the ice and behaving much better since moving back in with the same billet family after he returned from spending time with his mom over the Christmas break. Applying the Bare-Minimum Monday Philosophy to Relationships, Mass Shooters and the Myth That Evil Is Obvious, Transforming Empathy Into Compassion: Why It Matters. Comrie knew something was wrong. Charles Schwab is the founder, chair, and CEO of the Charles Schwab Corporation, the largest brokerage firm in the U.S. As a parent I don't care if he plays pro hockey, but I care that he doesn't kill himself," she said over the phone from Virginia, where she is an administrator at an elementary school. It took me years to gain confidence that I could achieve whatever I set my mind to, even with ADD., Olympic gold and silver medalist, womens hockey The sport doesnt require a lot of thinking, she says. Look at this list below for the names of celebrated people with LD and/or ADHD who have become successful artists, athletes, business leaders, scientists, celebrities, and more. It was a shock that I can only compare to a death, she recalls. [Born This Way: Personal Stories of Life with ADHD], Co-holder of the worlds record in the 100-meter sprint He was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 7 and put in remedial classes. Robert Toth had dyslexia and ADHD. Eventually, the ban was reduced to one year. Ive probably had ADHD my entire life, says Granato. You may opt-out by. I dont let ADD bring me down.. Nicknamed Little Tornado by her parents, she feels that her high energy was the key to success and this helped lead her team to a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano and a silver at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. Adam Levine is an American musician, songwriter, actor, and lead vocalist for the rock band Maroon 5. Danny Glover is an African-American actor and political activist. But he had not. And she worried that her ADHD would get in the way. With sports stars like Terry Bradshaw and Pete Rose leading the way, these rising athletes have stepped forward to share their personal journeys with ADHD. Keira Knightley is an award-winning English actress, starring in Bend It Like Beckham and Pirates of the Caribbean. In high school, suspensions were common for Kaman. Yet, in order to excel, athletes with ADHD need Hes not alone. Well done! Lindsay Wagner is an American actress who starred in the TV dramas The Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman. ), CBS TV show The Doctors on QEEG with ADHD (10/08) and Biofeedback Techniques (3/09). The time was a remarkable 0.09 seconds faster than his time in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens which had been good enough to capture the gold medal. Aspergers: Clay Marzo (surfing), Jim Eisenreich (MLB), NHL goalies, T. Mac (High School basketball). Greg Louganis won four gold medals in Olympic diving and was the first athlete ever to win perfect tens at a World Championship. Understood is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization (tax identification number 83-2365235). He doesnt drink or do drugs; the only vice he admits to is speeding (he once drove his Porsche the wrong way down a one-way street at 180 miles an hour). He believes his condition enables him to approach problems differently than others. While he doesn't mention it, his mom feels the ADHD might have had something to do with an ugly incident in Saginaw last year where Comrie shot a puck into the crowd after his team was scored on. Terry Bradshaw won four Super Bowls as an NFL quarterback and now he hosts Foxs NFL pregame show. 8.

Diagnosed with ADHD at age 9, Michael Phelps went on to become the most decorated Olympian of all time, swimming his way to a record-breaking So do many other sports, including soccer and basketball. Due to dyslexia, he didnt learn to read and write until he was 45. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. As a child, Jims dyslexia put him in special education classes; he was also teased, bullied, and suffered from low self-esteem and depression. Gavin Newsom is the 40th Governor of California and was mayor of San Francisco. Two thirds of children with ADHD will continue to have symptoms into adulthood, Bernhardt said. Heres a collection of some well-known people who just happen to live with ADHD. "I stood up in front of the team with Jason Brooks and told the guys why I might be loopy, why some of the things I might say or do might be ridiculous, what was going on in my head," Comrie said. Shes an advisor to the Federal Reserve Board and she recently completed her second term on the Congressional Budget Offices panel of economic advisors. In fact, ADHD likely plays a role in some athletes career choices and achievements, and proper management of the condition is important for safety and performance, the review authors note in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. "Some days I just didn't want to try or go to the rink. In those few seconds when I was waiting for the race to start, I thought, Please, God, if Im meant to do this, let it happen,' he recalls. Prescribed stimulant medication Adderall, but had side effects. His grades plummeted. I was a natural at that., Granato says it was a relief to realize that ADHD was behind her inability to deal with day-to-day responsibilities. He has severe dyslexia and didnt read a complete novel until he was 38, when he finished Catching Fire. Here are some inspiring stories you can share. Bernhardt said somewhere between five per cent and 12 per cent of children suffer from ADHD. He shares his home with a posse of three childhood friends, a Rottweiler named Tank, and a nameless python. Jim Shea Jr. won a gold medal competing in the skeleton (bobsled) event at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Please enable JavaScript and refresh the page in order to complete this form. Art Rodriguez is the Mexican-American author of East Side Dreams and The Monkey Box. For the 5-17 age group the incidence is 11%). Philip Schultz is the prize-winning author of numerous poetry books; hes received a Pulitzer, a Fullbright, an NEA Fellowship, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. In class, I had trouble concentrating, but racing helped me focus., [Musicians, Actors, and Trailblazers with ADHD]. Many sports psychologists extrapolating from this contend the percentage could be as high as 20 percent among the general pro-athlete population. U.S. Olympic champion Simone Biles took to Twitter to let the world know she has ADHD. Due to severe visual and audio dyslexia, he flunked third grade. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. They made me feel like a criminal and a cheater, when I had no idea Id done anything wrong.. Joe Pantoliano is an American actor best known for his roles in The Sopranos and The Matrix. He struggled with dyslexia but overcame it by applying the rules of perseverance and a strong work ethic., Helen Taussig was a leader in pediatric cardiology and one of the most celebrated physicians of the 21st century. WebProfessional Athletes with ADHD or ASD ADHD: Michael Phelps, Terry Bradshaw, Pete Rose, Bruce Jenner, Magic Johnson, Jackie Stewart, Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Nolan ADHD: Michael Phelps, Terry Bradshaw, Pete Rose, Bruce Jenner, Magic Johnson, Jackie Stewart, Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Nolan Ryan, Jason Kidd, Greg Louganis, Andy LaRoche, Alex Trevino, Derek Lowe, Scott Eyre, Tom Gorzelanny. Olympian runner, gold medal winner and worlds fastest human Justin Gatlin says racing helped him focus, and came off his ADHD meds in 2001 after testing positive for a banned substance by track and field officials. When he was a child with dyslexia, his teachers told him that he was stupid and would never amount to anything., Ann Bancroft is a polar explorer and the first woman to cross the ice to both the North and South Pole. He couldn't stay on the page. Journal of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. He says, I had a really bad case of dyslexia I literally could not really learn to read and write until I had a PC., Richard Rogers is an award-winning British architect who has designed landmarks like the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. They excel in chaotic conditions and thrive under pressure. From 1946 to 1980, he played 26 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) Many of these strengths translate well to sports. Mr. Hockey dominated foes on ice, inspired fans off it during historic five-decade career. "We all really respected that. James Carville is an American political analyst, consultant, educator, and media personality. "We are younger. Shes had ADHD since she was a child, and has undergone several psychiatric treatments and medication to make her feel comfortable. And all this was done while thousands of fans were screaming at the top of their lungs, which often made it hard to think, much less hear. Many athletes who have mild to moderate ADHD/ASD are able to excel in sports if they find the right fit. Like Chris Pronger, Bobby Clarke and Mark Messier, Chelios walked the line between star and thug, and his all-around game is what earns him a spot on this list of the best NHL hockey players of all time. How to get the right IEP or 504 for your child's learning disabilities, 8 steps to kicking off your childs IEP the right way, Extended school year services: What you need to know. For additional information, please refer to www.attentionlearningcenter.com. Chris Cuthbert is the most famous hockey commentator in the history of the National Hockey League. As a dyslexic, he had difficulty reading and sitting for timed exams. 1.

Sitting atop our list of famous people with ADHD is In a July 2020 YouTube video titled t I wouldnt have cared., In 2006, Gatlin achieved another first, of which hes equally proud: making the deans list. He won the 1973 Amstelveen Hockey World Cup gold medal. ability to do well in chaos (quarterback), unique/creative problem solving (routines), lack of concern about losing at the moment, quick reaction time/impulsivity if controlled, Performing well in practice but not in games, Performs well in unstructured situations and poorly in important & structured situations, Performance-related anxiety (sleeplessness), Impulsively throwing equipment/frustrated, Overfocusing on technical aspects (curveball, 3 point shoot, save technique), Hyperfocusing & practicing for longer periods of time, Hyperfocusing when necessary (pitcher full count pitch, goalie shootout), Greater ability to stay calm due to having less emotional access, Difficulty with unfair/incorrect official calls, Difficulty with lack of structure (overtime) and changes (being traded), Difficulty socially bonding often play positions that are considered odd /different (i.e. Andrew Dornenburg, an award-winning chef, says cooking saved him from his struggle with dyslexia. Michael Phelps, who won a record-breaking 22 Olympic medals, was told as a child by a wrongheaded teacher that hed never be able to focus on anything. He couldn't think.He was diagnosed in Grade 7, but had trouble handling the medication. Understood does not provide medical or other professional advice. So I moved in with Jason," Comrie said of the meeting.