How can you tell whether you have ADD or not? Is it a disease?
341697
This is not a disease thats a Disorder and the right name of it is ADHD....its better if u talk to a psychiatrist if the kid has some problem in his/her study or her social contact at school but most of children with this disorder (if they dont lose their study) will get better in future.
545469
It's always a difficult decision to make when faced with ADD and medication.  I try to look at it from a quality of life perspective.  Does you son receive a lot of negative input from his ADD behavior?  IF he does then it might be worth it to do a trial on an ADD medication like time released Aderall.  You can stop at any time.  The drug will be completely out of his system in a day.   You want to give him just enough medication to for him to think before he acts not to be "doped up."   For kids who really need the medication, I've seen it change lives.  Lots of lives.  If he doesn't need the medication it won't change his behavior or ability to focus.\n\nThere really are no effective alternative medications.  Talk to your Doctor and consider the quality of life he currently experiences with out medication.  Good luck! =)
915741
What Are the Symptoms?\n\nThe symptoms of ADHD include inattention, impulsiveness and hyperactivity that are inappropriate for a person's age level. \n\nChildren who have ADHD often:\n\nAre easily distracted by sights and sounds in their environment. \nAre unable to concentrate for long periods of time on low stimulation tasks (homework vs. video games). \nAre restless and impulsive. \nHave a tendency to daydream. \nAre slow to complete tasks. \nAdults who have ADHD often:\n\nMiss work deadlines.\nMiss appointments.\nAppear hectic and disorganized.\nHave significant problems prioritizing. \nSymptoms of ADHD in adults and children\n\nYou must got to a physiologist or a ph\nphycartist and have the test done formally.
682970
You get forever stuck and by the time you realize you have it, your life is ruined, lol.  Make lists and lots of them.  Beg your doctor for a trial bottle of ritilan or similar.  If it has a calming effect on you, you have ADD.  If you feel wound up like most of the population would, then you don't.
290734
ADD/ADHD is not an imaginary disorder.  It is a chronic developmental disorder which is genetically based.  It is not a learning disability, but can co?exist with learning disabilities in approximately 25 to 33 percent of those diagnosed with ADD/ADHD.\n\nI am taking concerta.  It is fine for this problem.  There are side effects however.\n\nI never heard of anyone who is taking or is told to take two different kinds of this medication together.  I am not positive but I don't think it is a good idea.
1100380
ADD can be caused by environmental factors such as cleaning chemicals or personal care products. The chemicals in these products can throw off the bodies chemical balance causing add symptoms. I read a study that stated that 80% od ADD cases are caused by environmental factors.
249480
Your question needs more focus.  Do you mean how is it diagnosed or what the symptoms are?
246420
My opinion is that any person with ADD may need aids, especially when it comes to stressful situations such as taking a test.  In order to truly demonstrate what you know you might certainly need extra time or other allowances.  That would not be unusual.
185155
If you have it, it is really hard to tell. Usually friends and family of the afflicted person have an easier time recognizing it.\n\nCheck out this resource on the subject:\n\nhttp://www.mentalhealth.com/book/p40-sc02.html
100877
The term "ADHD" is simply a label used to categorise a list of psychosocial traits that Psychiatry considers to be improper or abnormal in society. Psychiatry defines these traits as a "mental illness", and promotes it as a "disease" that requires "treatment".\n\nIt is not a "disease", despite claims or implications made by certain psychiatric or pharmaceutical organisations. There is NO credible scientific evidence that shows the existence of what constitutes "ADHD" as a biological/neurological disorder, brain abnormality or "chemical imbalance".\n\n"For a disease to exist there must be a tangible, objective physical abnormality that can be determined by a test such as, but not limited to, blood or urine test, X-Ray, brain scan or biopsy. All reputable doctors would agree: No physical abnormality, no disease. In psychiatry, no test or brain scan exists to prove that a 'mental disorder' is a physical disease. Disingenuous comparisons between physical and mental illness and medicine are simply part of psychiatry's orchestrated but fraudulent public relations and marketing campaign." Fred Baughman, MD., Neurologist & Pediatric Neurologist.\n\n"Chemical imbalance…it’s a shorthand term really, it’s probably drug industry derived… We don’t have tests because to do it, you’d probably have to take a chunk of brain out of someone - not a good idea." Dr. Mark Graff, Chair of the Committee of Public Affairs for the American Psychiatric Association. July, 2005.\n\nSuch behavioural characteristics that Psychiatry created this unscientific "disease" from are, and always have been, generally considered NORMAL. Now, it seems, inattention or "hyperactivity" [Hyperactivity means 'excessively active'* -- what is excessive? On whose authority?? It's ridiculous!!] is abnormal, a "mental illness".\n\nFor a rundown of the exact diagnostic criteria of "attention deficit disorder" visit: http://groups.msn.com/psychbusters/diagnosticcriteria.msnw\n\nFor information on the junkscience behind psychiatric "testing" for "ADHD" visit: http://adhdtesting.org/\n\nFor a list of what inattention COULD be attributed to (rather than some fraudulent "mental illness") visit: http://adhdparentssupportgroup.homestead.com/50conditionsmimicingADHD.html\n\nFor more information, see;\n\nhttp://groups.msn.com/psychbusters/addadhd.msnw\nhttp://groups.msn.com/psychbusters/adhdfacts.msnw\nhttp://www.adhdfraud.org/\nhttp://www.ritalindeath.com/\nhttp://cchr.org/files/7515/child_drug_EN.pdf\nhttp://www.ablechild.org/\n\n\n--\n\n"We are not "overdrugging" or misdiagnosing" ADHD. ADHD is a total, 100 percent fraud. The many millions of schoolchildren around the world who are being drugged have no disease." Fred Baughman, Jr., M.D. Child Neurologist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.\n\n"Parents are seldom told that Ritalin is ‘speed’—that it is pharmacologically classified with amphetamines, has the same effects, side effects, and risks. Yet this is well-known in the profession...." Dr. Peter R. Breggin & Ginger Ross Breggin, The War Against Children, P. 84.\n\n"...But because ADD is so vaguely defined, even for a psychiatric disorder, it is tailor-made for bogus claims. There are, as the American Psychiatric Association’s latest diagnostic manual concedes, "no laboratory tests that have been established as diagnostic" for "Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder." Richard E. Vatz, Professor, Towson State University, "Attention Deficit Delirium," The Wall Street Journal, July 27, 1994\n\n"The diagnosis of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is entirely subjective… There is no test. It is just down to interpretation… The lines between an ADD sufferer and a healthy exuberant kid can be ve
598976
Check out the links I've posted below. As someone with ADD I know how difficult it can be. The first one is the National ADD Association. The second one is a site explicitly for adults and children living with ADD and the third is a mental health site, which also has some helpful links.
444265
Well the first thing is to ask if you have hard time concentrating?  more than is normal?  do you misplace things often? it affects people in many different ways. For example, some people pace or walk around in circles unable to concentrate.  Others are amazingly hyper and totally out of control.  I guess what you really need to ask yourself is do you feel in complete control of your actions or to you do things impulsively without knowing why?  If you do you might have it?  Just a note.  Many doctors are very much against recognizing add and many are much more lenient so if you are not getting officially tested but are rather discussing it with a doctor first you should probably get a second opinion to make sure you are getting the correct treatment.
294101
First, to the Tom Cruise above me, you can go shove off. No one gives a sh*t about your opinions when they actually live with this disorder. Besides, your "9/10" stat is totally made up and ADD and ADHD are both technically the same thing, as doctors now more formally diagnose people as ADHD-inattentive type, ADHD-hyperactive type, or ADHD-combined type.\n\nAs for the question, I'm just going to say...if the person hasn't gone to a psychiatrist and been formally diagnosed, they might as well do it. A psychiatrist can recommend some different wayts to concentrate, etc.
416199
I have ADHD and I'm still in school on mysenior year about to graduate.. ADHD is what it is and yea it makes your attention span short and you a little hyperactive, but him not wanting to go to school has nothing to do with his diagnosis..\nSo for some help i gave you a link below for some signs of ADHD and ODD\nAnd about staying in class yea i do sometimes when my medicine starts to wear off so i go to sleep or doodle my thoughts n stuff and it really helps
215533
ADD/ADHD is VERY real. It is an imbalance in function between different parts of the brain. Stimulants (caffiene, medications, etc.) bring the "slower" areas into closer functioning with the "faster" areas, allowing the brain sections to communicate better and reducing distractibility, fidgeting, confusion, etc. \n\nThere are many good educational programs for children to learn to deal with their symptoms. "How Does Your Engine Run" is a good one (check with Occupational Therapists). \n\nMedication is a decision to make with your physician. Because it is not always clear how each medicine affects different areas of the brain, and because each and every person with ADHD has different combinations of active/inactive areas of the brain, often several medications must be tried, at different doses, before symptoms are relieved. Some people do not benefit from currently available medications. Do NOT stay with a medicine if it is not relieving symptoms, or if the side effects are not acceptable. Medication is a tool, not a requirement. \n\nShop for a good school in your area, with good teachers who understand and know how to work with people living with ADHD. Insist that the school OT evaluate your child for Sensory Integration Dysfunction, and that your child be placed on either a 504 plan or recieve an IEP (your child qualifies for this help under "other health impaired" through the Individuals with Disabilities Act/IDEA) to ensure teachers are giving the classroom and instructional modifications that will best help your child learn.\n\nGood luck.
468018
ADD (Attention-Deficit Disorder), is a psychiatric illness that is marked by hyperfocus, hyperactivity, forgetfulness, mood swings, and lack of impulse control. Some experts say as many as 70%-80% of people with ADD have sleep disorders as well. This can be either trouble falling asleep or trouble staying asleep. Either can cause problems with attention, impulsiveness, and distraction, increasing some of the main symptoms of ADD. LOL
43309
There are many different medications for ADD. My little brother tried Adderal XR, but it had WAY TOO MANY EMOTIONAL SIDE EFFECTS. (But keep in mind that everyone is different!) He is currently taking Concerta and the emotional side effects have disappeared!