How do you tell if you have ADD?

[19hhbelgian]

Oh boy... My hubby has ADD - tested by true means, not just a family doctor. He would go into the specialist once a month to have his meds checked to make sure it was the right dosage, and to make sure it was working the way it was supposed to. It's not a simple distraction disorder, as the name implies. You can't just suspect you have it because you are easily distracted or go from one thing to another to another... I myself cannot concentrate for long periods of time, and am easily distracted, but I do not have ADD. It's a very complex learning disability, and isn't something that should be taken lightly. His grades in school before medications were poor to put it nicely. Once they figured out what was wrong, and he went on the correct medications, he was an A/B student rather than a D student. I'm not trying to be rude or anything, it's just that this is sometimes taken too lightly by us, and also family doctors who simply prescribe meds because the parents can't handle the child. Now that we are older (my husband is 31 on friday), my husband has weaned himself off the medications, and he is doing well, but only because he now knows what he needs to do in order to compensate. Oh yeah, my hubby will actually become so engrossed in something it is almost impossible for me to actually get his attention - exact opposite of what you would typically expect... Moral of the story, don't just think you have a disorder - if you honestly think you do see a specialist, not just the family doc. Otherwise, you're most likely like the rest of us who are pre-disposed to being easily distracted

 

[1duckychick]

I have ADHD. So do both of my kids. I have done a lot of research on the topic. I'm actually doing a presentation about ADHD tonight. I can post several links that could be helpful for you to look at if you want. I can send you my powerpoint presentation as well.

The best way to find out if you have it is to see your primary care doc. He/she will have you answer a questionare which will give you a rating. It's also important to rule out any other possible conditions as well.

Meds are not the only option in treating ADHD (if that's what you have). There are several behavioral "retraining" techniques to help you learn how to work with it, through it, around it. There's a great book called "The Disprganized Mind" that's a bible for folks with ADHD!

The site below is a good starting place.
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_adult_strategies.htm

If you want more info just let me know. I can send you a ton of stuff!

 

[Judy]

BULL. Sorry. The system is crazy, not the kids.

This is just one of the "disorders" that our educational system has created to explain why our kids do not prosper in school. Sorry, the problem is not the kids. They are not hyper anything. They sense that all this "factual" stuff thrown at them is, at best, subject to question. The vast majority of kids labeled stuff like "hyperactive" are "normal" kids who are bored to death.

Schools now try to teach a body of "facts," instead of how to learn the facts we might need: logic, research, how to think clearly, basic reasoning abilities, etc. Once kids really learn the three R's, maybe in third our fourth grade, we are just boring them with a pile of so-called facts. Hate to tell you how many "facts" I learned that are not true. A molecule is the smallest unit of existence? Yea, right.

I am actually surprised that the homeschooling movement is not almost universal. These are people, for the most part, who want their kids to be able to think for themselves, rather than parrot a bunch of learned "facts" that may or may not hold up. It is about reasoning, independent thinking, and ability to research. It is not about "facts."

I went to grade and high school in the 50's and 60's, when these things were still understood. Logical thinking was still a major component of whatever we were being taught. It is truly frightening to me that this is no longer the case.

One of the best classes I ever had was a debate class in high school. We tackled stuff like capital punishisment. It was about the rationale of thinking through of such subjects. It was always clear that it was about the logical premises, not the conclusion.

I was the first official homeschooler in my county. I think it was 1971. I already knew another homeschooling family, who had ignored the laws against any homeschooling. Later, my neighbors turned me in for not sending my son to school. I never did get them for shooting so many of my cats....

 

[Wifezilla]

It's a very complex learning disability, and isn't something that should be taken lightly.

While I do joke about it, it isn't something I take lightly and it explains so much about my childhood it is unbelievable. It's just that, at 45, having lived with it for so long and found ways to cope, I see no reason to see a specialist.​

 

[Southernbelle]

I'm ADD and so are my kids. I did very, very well in school. I never studied, but am very intelligent, so coped well, but looking back, I wonder what I could've accomplished if I'd been diagnosed and medicated! As an adult, I do take medication, now. I love it because it makes my mind such a restful place to be! If you've never had it, I can't describe the frustration from the constant bombardment of random thoughts. My husband got very upset with me because I would honestly forget so much that I needed to do. It's hard to carry on a conversation without stopping in the middle of a sentance several times in one story and collect your thoughts. I was constantly saying, "sorry, lost my train of thought..."

As for my children...all I can say is, if you don't have to deal with ADHD in your children, than count your blessings and don't judge me. My kids were diagnosed for years before we decided to medicate and it was NOT a decision I or our doctors made lightly. It was never about controlling my children. One of the things you may not realize is that ADHD kids can get very depressed. They have poor impulse control and as a good parent you have to constantly correct thier behavior and redirect them over and over and over. I could handle that just fine, but the constant correction (even gently done) affects their self esteem and can lead to depression and that I refuse to ignore.

 

[Dar]

Quote:

If I penned up anything for 7 hours and only let them out for a few minutes every 3 hours or so they would start bouncing off the walls too
In our society we want everything to be the same everyone has to learn the same or its a disability, everyone must sound the same or its a disability.
we are reducing the amount of time our children spend outside playing, climbing trees bike riding using their imagination ..why ? because we are so caught in in a rush rush rush life style we forget to stop and smell the roses
I have a DS that was diagnosed with ADHD and we went thought he whole medication routine and when nothing worked to calm this child down we took it further we were sent to the Hospital for sick children in Toronto where it took a team of 6 docs to figure out tat he did not have ADHD ...that one day changed my whole outlook on these designer ailments.

 

[1duckychick]

mjsds and ddawn - it's very easy for those that don't have a condition to say it doesn't exist but as an adult with ADHD I can tell you with certainty that it does and that living with it is no walk in the park.

People think that ADHD just means that a kid is hyperactive, running, bouncing off the wall, etc. This is actually NOT what ADHD is. Hyperactivity can be a symptom but it's not the main symptom.

Haviing ADHD is like watching 500 channels in your head all at the same time. The thoughts never stop and you cannot focus on one thing for but a minute and then your brain is racing to something else.

There have been actual brain studies on people with ADHD and they have found chemical imbalances and interuptions in the neurons in the frontal cortex, the area that controls inhibitions.

Saying ADHD is a BS condition & that people don't need help with is like saying there's no such thing as asthma so quit your gasping and get back to work.

 

[Dar]

i am not saying it is total BS but what I am saying is that they (doctors and yes some teachers and parents) are so concerned that their child/student not be different then anyone else that they will go to extremes to make them "normal"

when you are an adult and your brain has finished developing and growing and there are still difficulties then sure pursue other means of keeping your mind on the same channel

what bites my rear is the fact that as soon as a child does not act like their peers they are labeled and meds are slammed down their throat to make them "normal"

when we were kids we had 1 3/4 hours in a day of "free time" at school now they have cut it down to 40 minutes a day and the phys ed budgets are slashed as well and then they wonder why the kids are wiggle butts...ooo lets give 'em a pill

it is way over diagnosed and many use it as a crutch. If you have proper learning tools inplace you would be amazed at what you can do.

and FYI i was diagnosed as an adult with ADD when I went back to school as an adult so I know exactly what you are going through. I use a whole wack of coping mechanisms and it works for me it my not work for you cause we are all different. One of my coping mechanisms is my IPOD i have it loaded with the same music that is playing when I study and about a week before an exam or test I would hand my IPOD in to my teacher and she would go through it to make sure there are not any hidden notes on it and I would get it back on exam day all of my teachers were great about this. I also study late at night so that there is nothing for me to do...and now I work the night shift because it helps me focus on the task at hand and i write everything down even my daily reminder to close the chickens at night

 

[Southernbelle]

Quote:
Thank you!

Unfortunately, some doctors are careless about diagnosis/medication and a lot of kids that don't need it are given meds. Or parents are just looking to control their children and I agree that's just wrong on so many levels! But, don't lump the good parents in with the bad.

I have it and know how difficult it is. Choosing to take medication for myself was one of the best things I've ever done! It just so much more peaceful in my head! Knowing exactly how it feels helps me have more understanding for my children.

Our huge backyard is like a park: swimming pool, trampoline, playset, sandbox, pond, garden, trees to climb and they go out every day, all day and run and play and have "adventures". We pushed 2 old couches together in the basement playroom and when my son watches TV, he runs up and down the couches non-stop to get energy out. They're never still and I'm just fine with that!

 

[Wifezilla]

(doctors and yes some teachers and parents) are so concerned that their child/student not be different then anyone else that they will go to extremes to make them "normal"

I can agree to that.

Of course, a lot of kids labeled as having attention problems ARE normal...it's the idiot teachers who think it is reasonable to drone on for hours at 7 year old and expect them to hold still and be quiet that are the weirdos!!!​