Hi Krista: Welcome to the ADDitude forums! Here are a few articles I found that might help address some of the issues you raise about testing, working with teachers and inspiring the best in children...

Maybe It’s Not ADHD After All: About Common Learning Disabilities: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/724.html Diagnosing Related Conditions in ADHD Children and Adults: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/774.html Diagnosing ADHD: 3 Common Mistakes: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1876.html Diagnosing Difficult Cases: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1674.html Writing Help for ADHD LD Children: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1874.html Working With School: http://www.additudemag.com/topic/adhd-learning-disabilities/school-help.html

I hope this helps!

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Krista,

It is still possible that your son has ADD. When children with ADD are in a novel situation, dealing with authority and in a one-on one situation, all of which would apply when he was with the pediatrician, the ADD symptoms can go away. But in a classroom setting or a group of peers, he may show more symptoms. The inattentive type can be very quiet and well behaved. They do not get out their seats and can have many friends. He may drift off in his mind and daydream (I did this frequently but no one could "see" it).

My son and daughter both have the inattentive type of ADD and recently I realized that I have it as well. My husband has the hyperactive type. I hated to write or work on projects. I didn't know how to begin, couldn't seem to organize what I needed to write and put if off as long as I could. (None of this had to do with my intellect because I was an honors student and got good grades). My son and daughter are the same way. Neither of them were behavioral problems and we didn't find out my daughter had it until she was 20.

By the way, my son's handwriting is atrocious(he's 16) and this is actually quite common for kids with ADD. My handwriting is okay but I know several individuals with ADD whose handwriting is bad. Try to find out why he hates to write.

I would also suggest you check out the book, "Driven to Distraction" by Dr.'s Edward Hallowel and John Ratey. They are both psychiatrists who also have ADD themselves. It does an excellent job of explaining ADD in both children and adults. It can show up differently in each individual that has it. Some are much easier to identify.

I only recently found out I have ADD even though I've read more than two dozen books on the subject and have two children and a husband with ADD. Something my doctor had said got me thinking and I talked to him about it. Some of the reasons I didn't recognize it is because my high intelligence enabled me to get by, my anxiety which masked the ADD symptoms and the use of structure, lists, reminders, etc. Since I have had my anxiety treated with medication, the ADD symptoms have been revealing themselves more. Reading "Driven to Distraction" helped me see myself in a different light and things began to make sense for me.

Your son may not have ADD but you need to look into it further. Our doctor had mentioned that the greater the intelligence, the longer it takes to get a diagnosis of ADD. Good luck with your son.

Elaine

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Elaine,

Thanks so much for your response. It does really help me. I guess I just don't see it in my son. But maybe i am in denial. I too believe I have ADHD. When was young i was so hyper...couldn't sit still for a minute. I was smart, but so distracted!! My son actually has had teachers back in gradeschool tell me that he looks like he is totally daydreaming, but when called upon, he knows everything they were saying. I guess that has me stumped. I would think he would be totally lost. But, he really is listening , just not looking like he is. My daughter is just the opposite. Staring at the teachers, really looking interested, and yet couldn't tell you anything they just said. They are different in that way. I guess i should still follow through with more testing from the school. It just makes me feel kinda bad that they all are saying he has this, when really they aren't Dr.s. It's like they are talking behind our backs, I could just feel it...so could my son. There are things they tell me that seem so typical of a kid and yet they're making it sound like it's because he has ADD. Like using his sleeve to lightly swat at a friend in the hallway. Or saying.."i'm done" when he's done with something. There's more..but you get it. I am just feeling like they sort of are grabbing at anything. I also notice when he does a worksheet from a book to get the answers he can do fine. When he needs to just come up with more elaborate answers he can not. He told me he wished he had a handwriting teacher, so he could write better. I don't think he can even read his writing!!

Do you, and your kids take anything to help you all? My daughter takes concerta 36mg. I sometimes want to just give my son one and see what would happen. i know I can't , but I just think about it. I think he may just have some processing problems. I agree though ADD is not easy to see. Both of my kids are so well behaved and sweet, and great conversationalists, and very calm. I never thought about it the way you put it though, being one on one with us, or a teacher, or Dr. It does make sense. O.K., now I am for sure calling the school tomorrow for further testing. Really, Thanks you so much for helping me see the light!!! Best of luck to you all.. Krista

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You son sounds just like my son and you sound just like me. I don't really see any problems with my son. Yes he has some energy but he is a seven year old boy. He is not mean or disrespectful. He doesn't hit or get up and run around the room. He seems to follow suit very well. But his teacher says he has a hard time focusing. But he is inconsistent. Somedays he is fine and other days he is not so good. It seems to me he can focus on everything but schoolwork. His handwriting is beautiful. He picks up things so quickly. Math and science are his best subjects and he is a good speller. His only problem is reading. With some writing subjects he can't seem to come up with stories on his own. He is only a little bit behind the other children in reading. He took his Tera Nova testing last year and he scored way up above average. He gets up and does his morning routine all by himself. He also does his bedtime routine alone. He sits quietly at the dinner table even when we go out to eat. He can sit through movies and even when he plays he is not all over the place he is very normal. He plays a lot of sports and does very well. And he has a lot of friends.

We took him for ADHD testing and he did great in the testing session. He sat and listened and was very impressive. So the doctor said based on what the teacher is seeing he believes he has a very mild form of inattentive ADHD. I said WHAT? Even with his own private testing he went solely off what the teacher said. Even with all of the teachers results and his combines he still fell below clinical ADHD. So where did this diagnoses come from? I said couldn't he just be an energetic child? Aren't there children like that in the world? He said not that I've seen. Then he wanted to talk about medicine (of course). So at this point I am not sure my son has a problem. I am willing to try some of the techniques that are used for children with ADHD but that is it. If things get worse I will test him again. My point is to not be so quick to put labels on everyone. We are all different that is what makes us special and unique. If you want more answers you could always have your child tested. Best of luck tou you and your family.

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Maybe your son has a specific problem with writing, either the actual motor part of writing or the organizing of thoughts into written coherent language. Check out Mel Levine's book A Mind at A Time

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I think you are smarter than all those teachers and Dr.'s. I think there are all different people in this world, and yes, some are more excitable, thanks God for those kids...they are a breath of fresh air walking in the room!! Some kids are quiet, laid back, some are competitive, some have perseverence...some just wait and ride the ride, not much passion ,but none the less living life the way they were born. I am so sick of all these Dr.s just jumping the gun. The book..A MIND AT A TIME, is wonderful. I bought it many years ago, and it has been my "bible" ever since. You should read it. The author tells it like it is. Everyone is different, therefor everyone learns differently. We are all not cut from the same mold. Your son sounds perfect!!! So, a little behind in reading. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Are we all brilliant artists?? no, we all see art in a different way. Just let your son be who he is. he sounds smart and sweet. He is only 7, I would wait it out until you see drastic discrepencies in his grades..A,F,A,D...you know what i mean? If he's doing so well, why are they concerned? Maybe his first grade teacher didn't teach the old phonics too well...who knows. I really wouldn't worry though. you sound like you are right on top of it all!! Good luck to you!! And your boy!! Quote:

Mz Jonz said: You son sounds just like my son and you sound just like me. I don't really see any problems with my son. Yes he has some energy but he is a seven year old boy. He is not mean or disrespectful. He doesn't hit or get up and run around the room. He seems to follow suit very well. But his teacher says he has a hard time focusing. But he is inconsistent. Somedays he is fine and other days he is not so good. It seems to me he can focus on everything but schoolwork. His handwriting is beautiful. He picks up things so quickly. Math and science are his best subjects and he is a good speller. His only problem is reading. With some writing subjects he can't seem to come up with stories on his own. He is only a little bit behind the other children in reading. He took his Tera Nova testing last year and he scored way up above average. He gets up and does his morning routine all by himself. He also does his bedtime routine alone. He sits quietly at the dinner table even when we go out to eat. He can sit through movies and even when he plays he is not all over the place he is very normal. He plays a lot of sports and does very well. And he has a lot of friends.

We took him for ADHD testing and he did great in the testing session. He sat and listened and was very impressive. So the doctor said based on what the teacher is seeing he believes he has a very mild form of inattentive ADHD. I said WHAT? Even with his own private testing he went solely off what the teacher said. Even with all of the teachers results and his combines he still fell below clinical ADHD. So where did this diagnoses come from? I said couldn't he just be an energetic child? Aren't there children like that in the world? He said not that I've seen. Then he wanted to talk about medicine (of course). So at this point I am not sure my son has a problem. I am willing to try some of the techniques that are used for children with ADHD but that is it. If things get worse I will test him again. My point is to not be so quick to put labels on everyone. We are all different that is what makes us special and unique. If you want more answers you could always have your child tested. Best of luck tou you and your family.

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