The ADHD Iceberg

For over 20 years, our ADHD iceberg has been recognized worldwide as one of the most effective graphics that shows at a glance, the complexities of ADHD.

Click here to view our colorful 11 x 17 ADHD Iceberg.

Download PDF (Black & White)

Zeigler Dendy Family Mission

Our family’s mission is to help families around the world live successfully with ADHD. So after receiving numerous requests to translate the Iceberg into other languages, Alex and I began working with key contacts in several countries.

ADHD Iceberg Translations

In addition to our English version, the Iceberg has been translated into eight different foreign languages: Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Japanese, Greek, and Korean (coming soon). As our gift to you, you may download any of these Icebergs free of charge. If you share with others, please share the credit with the individual translator, Alex and me.

Translators: A special thank you to each of the professionals who volunteered to translate the Icebergs. I love that each Iceberg format is unique! Keep in mind that some English words are difficult to translate, so if the wording on the Iceberg is unclear or confusing, discuss the issue with a local professional.

Spanish: Jose Carlos Marin, Elena Díaz de Guereñu, M.D., Anna lopez Y Campoy, (President): TDAHSpain; Vitoria-Gasteiz, Pais Vasco, Spain; Sabadell, Spain

French (Canada): Marie-France Maisonneuve, Special Education Teacher; Quebec

French (France): Herve Caci, MD, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, specializing in ADHD, TDAH-PACA; Nice, France

Portuguese: Catarina Amara, Child & adolescent psychiatry trainee and Andre Carvalho, ADHD Portugal, SPDA

Vietnamese: Duong Khoa, MD; Ho Chi Minh City; (connected with Dr. Khoa on FB within 24 hours thanks to Kevin Roberts, via his friend Andrew Doan, MD)

Arabic: Dr. Huda Saaban, Ed. Psych, Accredited coach, Kuwait City

Greek: Christina Georgiadou, President ADHD Hellas, Secretary ADHD Europe, Athens, Greece

Japanese: Yuri Tachi, a classroom teacher of children with special needs and a family friend, Yokohama.

Korean: Coming soon

A Picture is Indeed Worth a Thousand Words: Just like an iceberg, most of the ADHD challenges are "hidden beneath the surface" and only the tip of the problem is visible! Frequently, teachers and parents only see the obvious tip of the Iceberg first, for example, not paying attention, being distractible, and for some being hyperactive. Consequently, adults may not recognize that losing things, not completing homework, being forgetful, being late, and having difficulty memorizing information are all part of the ADHD characteristics “hidden beneath the surface”.

Where Do Executive Function Deficits Fit in the Iceberg? To tell the truth, most of the challenges shown hidden beneath the surface are related to either ADHD delayed brain maturity or deficits in executive functions. So a more accurate title for the Iceberg would be The ADHD/EFD Iceberg.

Blank Iceberg Worksheet (click to download): Parents and professionals may find it helpful to review the challenges listed on the Iceberg; then fill in the Iceberg blanks with specific challenges unique to each child. This information will help in the development of an intervention plan.

Background: My son Alex Zeigler and I created the original black and white ADD/ADHD Iceberg in 1998. Then in 2003 Alex combined pictures of the ocean and sky to create our colorful 11 X 17 ADHD Iceberg in its current format.