What is ADHD and ADD?

ADHD you hyper and cant pay attention, ADD is when you just cant pay attention (all the time). Go to the doctor to find out if you have either one.

ADD is like when you are saying something then…. woah! look a butterfly! then you chase the butterfly :)

lol but really it’s basically when you can’t concentrate on anything, and you can’t sit still..

however, the actual tests, to tell if you have either, are very inaccurate.. many people are misdiagnosed with it, because A) they have too much sugar in their diet or B) they are seeking attention

There are real cases of ADD and ADHD, but most are just using it as an excuse..

Ex, A kid in class will run around and do childish things.. when the teacher asks him why he is doing this, he replies it’s because of the ADD… so instead of trying to teach the kid how to control their energy, they are allowed to do whatever they want.. This is only in some cases.. there are some legit people with ADD

i think i have ADD… someone could be talking infront of my face and i just daze off….. i talked to a doctor and she said “smart people get bored in normal conversations” ??? she says i have nothing to worry about…. but my whole family know that i don’t pay attention that good… i forget things often too…… i really do think i have atleast ADD… what do you think?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a biological, brain based condition that is characterized by poor attention and distractibility and/or hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. It is one of the most common mental disorders that develop in children. Symptoms may continue into adolescence and adulthood. If left untreated, ADHD can lead to poor school/work performance, poor social relationships and a general feeling of low self esteem. ADD is a general term frequently used to describe individuals with ADHD but without the hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. The terms are often used interchangeably for both those who do and those who do not have symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

You could try an online test (thehealthcenter.info/selftest.php?id=12) but the only real way to get diagnosed is through a professional. I don’t think of ADD/ADHD as a serious condition though, and feel that many teenagers are misdiagnosed. Don’t get caught up on diagnosing yourself.

The term ADD is being phased out. Now all types are refereed to as ADHD. The primarily inattentive form is now considered a subtype of ADHD.

I do not consider ADHD to be a deficit or a disorder; it is just a different type of person and personality. Our balance of brain chemicals is such that it is more difficult for us to motivate ourselves to do things we do not find interesting. On the other hand the need for stimulation can cause us to throw ourselves into things we are interested in. Paradoxically we have trouble focusing on some things while hyperfocusing on others.

Many inventors, scientists, entertainers, authors, and entrepreneurs had or are believed to have ADHD. In their case it was more of a blessing than a curse. Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Ford. Wolfgang Mozart, and Mark Twain all exhibited signs of ADHD Imagine how much poorer our society would be if these people were “normal.” It has been estimated that 85% of computer professionals have ADHD. Most of them have learned to manage it on their own and eventually found a niche where they can succeed. Our ability to hyperfocus can be a huge plus for long hours of difficult programming or troubleshooting.

Our educational system has becoming more structured and rigid over the last few decades expecting kids to learn in lock step. The problem is that some things that are easy for most people are dificult for those with ADHD. At the same time some things that most people find difficult are easier for those with ADHD.

In my own case every teacher I had until 5th grade wanted to hold me back because I daydreamed and seldom did or even knew what our assignments were. My mom who was a teacher herself refused to let me be held back because my reading and math were already above my grade level. I was in Special Ed for a while. In 5th grade I began to be able to manage my ADHD well enough to do fine in school. No doubt that in today’s educational system I would have been held back because if a student isn’t doing X,Y and Z by a certain point they are held back; there is no longer the flexibility that educators used to have. ADHD isn’t something that you cure; it is something you manage. In my case I’m a slave to to-do lists, I follow rituals or specific orders of tasks so I won’t miss things, and I have to constantly remind myself to start tasks instead of procrastinating. I have systems for lots of things. I always lock my car from outside so I won’t lock the keys in; I always put my cell phone, TV remote, and keys in exactly the same place so I won’t misplace them (try to anyway, I still loose them too frequently). I have alarms on my phone to remind me to do most of my daily tasks because otherwise I will forget them or loose track of time until it is too late.

Some people with ADHD are able to figure out how to get by on their own, some can get by with coaching to develop coping skills, while others require medication to function.

The term ADD is being phased out. Now all types are refereed to as ADHD. The primarily inattentive form is now considered a subtype of ADHD.

I do not consider ADHD to be a deficit or a disorder; it is just a different type of person and personality. Our balance of brain chemicals is such that it is more difficult for us to motivate ourselves to do things we do not find interesting. On the other hand the need for stimulation can cause us to throw ourselves into things we are interested in. Paradoxically we have trouble focusing on some things while hyperfocusing on others.

Many inventors, scientists, entertainers, authors, and entrepreneurs had or are believed to have ADHD. In their case it was more of a blessing than a curse. Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Ford. Wolfgang Mozart, and Mark Twain all exhibited signs of ADHD Imagine how much poorer our society would be if these people were “normal.” It has been estimated that 85% of computer professionals have ADHD. Most of them have learned to manage it on their own and eventually found a niche where they can succeed. Our ability to hyperfocus can be a huge plus for long hours of difficult programming or troubleshooting.

Our educational system has becoming more structured and rigid over the last few decades expecting kids to learn in lock step. The problem is that some things that are easy for most people are dificult for those with ADHD. At the same time some things that most people find difficult are easier for those with ADHD.

In my own case every teacher I had until 5th grade wanted to hold me back because I daydreamed and seldom did or even knew what our assignments were. My mom who was a teacher herself refused to let me be held back because my reading and math were already above my grade level. I was in Special Ed for a while. In 5th grade I began to be able to manage my ADHD well enough to do fine in school. No doubt that in today’s educational system I would have been held back because if a student isn’t doing X,Y and Z by a certain point they are held back; there is no longer the flexibility that educators used to have. ADHD isn’t something that you cure; it is something you manage. In my case I’m a slave to to-do lists, I follow rituals or specific orders of tasks so I won’t miss things, and I have to constantly remind myself to start tasks instead of procrastinating. I have systems for lots of things. I always lock my car from outside so I won’t lock the keys in; I always put my cell phone, TV remote, and keys in exactly the same place so I won’t misplace them (try to anyway, I still loose them too frequently). I have alarms on my phone to remind me to do most of my daily tasks because otherwise I will forget them or loose track of time until it is too late.

Some people with ADHD are able to figure out how to get by on their own, some can get by with coaching to develop coping skills, while others require medication to function.