Shane Victorino has it all. He is a star member of the Boston Red Sox team that is two victories away from a World Series title. And he has been treated successfully for ADHD with stimulants since the 1980's. Although many debate about the efficacy of diagnosis, the possibility of over diagnosis, the use of non-medical therapies first, there is little doubt that Shane would not be where he is today were it not for his stimulant treatment. He is not cured, but he has significant control over his emotions and impulsive anger when frustrated.

Russell Barkley, a baseball fan and leading expert on A.D.H.D., prefers using the term "intention" deficit" to attention deficit and provides important insights to readers of this article, attempting to provide a balanced approach.

According to Dr. Levinson, one of Berkley's best contributions to this article is to avoid the current tendency of attempting to deny that successful individuals, even those responding well to therapy, are problem free or merely have just an alternative way of normally functioning. Needless to say, ADHD didn't create Shane's gifted athletic functioning as some experts believe. Rather, his gift together with helpful treatment enabled him to succeed, despite his disorder. This insight applies to all gifted individuals with ADHD. Despite their gift and success, many continue to suffer and struggle in silence, requiring other therapeutic interventions. The illusion among many that famous dyslexics or those with ADHD are perfectly happy and content is based on the denial of their fans vs. reality. All too often, the rich and famous have more vs. less problems than the rest.

About Harold Levinson, M.D.

Formerly Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at New York University Medical Center, Dr. Harold Levinson is currently Director of the Levinson Medical Center for Learning Disabilities in Great Neck, New York. He is a well known neuropsychiatrist, clinical researcher and author. His "highly original" research into the cerebellar-vestibular (inner-ear) origins and treatment of dyslexia and related learning, attention-deficit/hyperactivity and anxiety or phobic disorders has evolved over the past four decades. Levinson's concepts encompass the collective insights derived from the examinations, follow-up and successful treatment of over 35,000 children, adults and even seniors and have led to new methods of screening, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. His expanded theories appear capable of encompassing and/or explaining all reported symptoms as well as most other concepts and experimental data, thus resulting in a truly holistic perspective.

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