Is being busy good for people with ADHD?

New research suggests symptoms of the disorder may be less severe in those with a demanding schedule. In high school, Sophie Didier started falling behind. She found it difficult to concentrate on her schoolwork, felt restless in class and often got in trouble for talking too much.

“I had a teacher that used to give me suckers so that I would shut up,” she said. At 15, a doctor diagnosed her with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder . Medication helped, but she discovered that having a demanding schedule was also important.



In both high school and university, her grades improved when she was juggling lacrosse and other extracurricular activities with her classes. Being so busy forced her to stick to a routine..