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When pediatricians diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, they often ask their patients whether they know anybody else with the problem. These days, American children are likely to reply with a household name: Michael Phelps, the Olympic swimming superstar , who is emerging as a role model among parents and children whose lives are affected by attention problems.

“There is a tremendous, tremendous amount of pride - I got the impression sometimes that some of the kids felt like they owned Michael,” said Dr.Harold S.Koplewicz, director of the Child Study Center at New York University Langone Medical Center.“There is a special feeling when someone belongs to your club and the whole world is adoring him.”

But the emergence of a celebrity with attention deficit has revealed a schism in the community of patients, parents, doctors and educators who deal with A.D.H.D. For years, these people have debated whether it means a lifetime of limitations or whether it can sometimes be a good thing.

Children with the disorder typically have trouble sitting still and paying attention. But they may also have boundless energy and a laserlike focus on favorite things .

For that reason, some doctors are pushing for a new view that focuses on the potential strengths of those with attention deficit. Dr.Edward M.Hallowell, a psychiatrist and author , says the current “deficit-based medical model” of the disorder results in low self-esteem.

“It’s not an unmitigated blessing, but neither is it an unmitigated curse, which is usually the way it’s presented,”said Dr.Hallowell, who has A.D.H.D. himself.“I have been treating this condition for 25 years, and I know that if you manage it right, this apparent deficit can become an asset. I think of it as a trait and not a disability.”

The notion that a disability can be harnessed in a positive way is not new. Last year, a study found that 35 percent of the smallbusiness entrepreneurs surveyed identified themselves as dyslexic. The researchers concluded that dyslexia made them better communicators and problem solvers, more likely to delegate authority.

Dr.Hallowell says low-self esteem and low expectations result from the way the A.D.H.D. diagnosis is presented to children, parents and teachers. He tells children with attention deficit that they have the brain of a race car, and he wants to work with them to build better brakes.

Other experts, however, say that while such success stories can be inspiring, parents need to know that their children face real risks. Research shows that children with attention deficit have different brain patterns from other children, and that they are more likely to drop out of school, be involved in car accidents and use illicit drugs.

“This reframing A.D.H.D. as a gift, personally I don’t think it’s helpful,” said Natalie Knochenhauer, founder of A.D.H.D. Aware, an advocacy group in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.“You can’t have a disability that needs to be accommodated in the classroom, and also have this special gift. There are a lot of people out there - not only do their kids not have gifts, but their kids are really struggling.”

Ms.Knochenhauer, who has four children with the disorder, says they too were inspired by the astonishing performance of Mr.Phelps in Beijing. But she added, “I would argue that Michael Phelps is a great swimmer with A.D.H.D., but he’s not a great swimmer because he has A.D.H.D.”