Symptoms? - ADD / ADHD Message Board

Joey25 · 03-16-2002, 04:31 AM

I am starting to suspect that I probably have some attention problems or even ADD. Can anyone please let me know which the symptoms are and what to do about it? PLS

James_A · 03-18-2002, 02:43 AM

Generally some of the more common symptoms of ADD tend to effect you attention span. one good indicator, is if when your reading a rather mundane, yet very informative book on a subject you very interested in, your mind might start wandering. You'll be reading the words in the book, but you'll be thinking about something else. And after a couple pages you'll realize you have no idea what you just read

.

This isn't to be confused with your mind wanders when reading a book you despise, on a subject you hate. This is normal in alot of people :P

Aside from that, just a general inability to concentrate on redunant or mundane tasks, or a mental block after a sustained period of lecture is a good indictor of ADD.
P.S.
It has also been theorized that The format of TV programming has caused shortened attention spans in the TV viewing public. Because the general network TV stations generally play shows in 8 minute increments, people who view large amounts of TV programs, especially in early years when the brain is devloping most, are conditioned to have shorter attention spans compared to people who indulge in books or commerial free movies. So i suggest talking abd reading to your children rather than sitting them infront of a TV.

mlgable · 03-18-2002, 06:58 AM

As mentioned with ADD when you read something or work on a math problem if something distracts you, be it a sound, a sight or a thought when you look back at the page or paper you have no clue where you were. Most people when they get distracted can go right back where they left off with almost no problem but an ADD person literally has to start all over again. It is much more than not remembering what you read if your mind wanders as this is not uncommon for anyone if a book is dull or not of interest to you. ADD people often have poor small motor skills making tasks like writing difficult. They have much trouble getting organized since they can't remember what they were doing if they get distracted. Say if they are supposed to bring home certain books for homework assignments and get interupted while getting their books out of the locker they can't remember what they were doing and often wind up not bringing the proper things home for homework. Hopefully this helps explain ADD better for you since it is much more than just forgetfullness or daydreaming.

James_A · 03-19-2002, 06:52 PM

mlgable is right about the additional ADD symptoms, i was actually planning to write those symptoms down as well, but got distracted......

Space_Cadet · 03-27-2002, 02:38 PM

Joey, all I can say is get yourself checked out right away. I was told by several friends and family memebers that I may have ADD since I was 20 and probably had it most of my life. I never listened to them, I read the symptoms and thought, "that's not me". Well I was inches away from losing my very well paying job, my wife and everything I worked so hard for. I went to a shink a couple of times and he told me I absolutely have ADD. I was put on Ritalin and have never felt better. That was two years ago, I'm 36 and I look back over the years at what I was able to accomplish with ADD and I'm amazed. Now that I am properly medicated, I have become a much better person, husband, father and employee. Good Luck!