ADHD, ADD, and Fidgeting

Everyone fidgets, not just those with ADHD and ADD. However, they tend to do it the most often and it actually helps them. Continue reading to find out how.

As someone with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), I can say that fidgeting has become very, very important to my success and failure. I fidget with almost anything if I'm trying to focus on something important, like a lecture. If I don't have something to fidget with, I'll either get distracted and do something on my phone or computer, or even worse, distract the whole room by clicking a pen. But why do we fidget?

Well, it turns out that ADD/ADHD might have been important to the survival of our ancestors. The ones who got distracted somewhat easily were more attentive, and thus were able to spot a predator or other animal before everyone else did. However, with the advent of civilization and cities, this trait was not often needed, and started to diverge. Some people lost the trait and others retained it. In the modern day, fidgeting is seen as a distraction and the idea that someone is ignoring information. However, it is often the opposite. Fidgeting is usually a source of comfort and allows the person affected to focus on the main task.

A person is usually only using two of the three main senses at a time (sight, sound, and touch). The way ADD and ADHD work is the unused sense is trying to do something but doesn't have anything to do. For example, the ancient peoples would eat and listen for disturbances at the same time. Today, people will listen to and watch a lecture and click a pen. The best way to fidget is to use the sense that is not being used, so it will occupy a very small portion of the mind instead of actively searching for something to do. Usually, that sense is touch, so a person will rub a worry stone or click a pen.

There are many "fidget toys" that can be purchased online for relatively little money. However, one of the best fidget toys is yet to be available. Youtube channel How to ADHD explains the "Fidget Cube"  fairly well in this video. The Fidget Cube is a small cube that has different things to mess with on each side, such as buttons, a worry stone, a joystick, a switch, dials, a ball, and a few others. It is expected to be available to the public in December. 

However, there are other ones out there. If you own a 3D printer, you can print a basic version. This one, found on Thingiverse made by user CThig, is a very simple, yet effective, fidget toy. It has a spinning dial, a switch, a worry stone, a tunnel going around a bend, and some lines to run your finger along. Overall, this is quite satisfying and seems to help boost concentration.

What are your thoughts? Do you use a fidget toy? Tell me your ideas in the comments below and be sure to follow for more science and tech news.