Nicci57
04-20-2002, 08:23 PM
Is it possible to have ADHD and show almost all of the symptoms of it, but be at the top of your class and to have NEVER struggled in school??
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oliveoyl
04-21-2002, 08:12 PM
I have done a lot of research on ADD and ADHD since my husband and daughter have been diagnosed with it. Yes, it is very possible to be at the top of your class and do well in school with this disorder. As a matter of fact many people with ADD/ADHD rank in the genius category on IQ tests. There have alos been sutdies done that show that a large number of doctors, air traffic controllers, etc. have ADHD. They have actulally learned to use the disorder to thier advantage. They are always on overdrive so they tend to get a lot accomplished. However, this is not true for everyone. My husband has so many brilliant ideas but they go thorugh his mind so quickly that by the time he focuses on one, his brain has moved on to the next one. One psychiatrist explained it this way. He said it is like their is a stream with fish swimming quickly by. You are trying to catch them. Just when you finally catch one, he slips away and you have to catch another. The people who learn to focus and hang onto the really good big fish are the ones that can use this disorder to their advantage. Hope this helps.
rainbow32
04-22-2002, 12:03 AM
It is. Not all ADD is extremely apparent to anyone! i wasn't diagnosed till early thirties. As far as i've researched so far, (mainly the last four months, as started ADHD med Jan) many professionals say they did fine in school, even completed gradualte AND medical school, etc. However, as school became more and more complex and demanding (graduate, medical, law school, bar exam, etc) they were taking longer than most and expending more energy than their non-ADD peers completing their studies well. Also, as people with ADD begin to have families, hence more responsibility, steady job, and bills to pay, etc, things can get really crazy NOT yet getting diagnosed or treated for Attention Deficit Disorder. You may want to check out Healing ADD, The Six Types of ADD, by Dr. DAniel Amen. He says a lot. Written in 2001. Also check out ADD.about.com and read different stuff on adults and ADD. Another good one is MSN health message boards, both the Ask the ADD Dr. Richard Sogn, (read the doc's profile, as he has ADD and is middle-aged!) and especially, the Adult ADD/ADHD board. YOu'll gain WAY more insights into this just not getting the proper attention topic of adults and ADD!
Nicci57
04-23-2002, 11:12 PM
Hey olive and rainbow!! Thanks for writing me back that does help me out a lot!!