A.D.D can you tell me the signs please

[auntymandy]

Just want to know a few main signs

[auntymandy]

anyone?

[DaddyGhoul]

god knows (sorry, not very helpful). i always thought ds was a little over active but then i saw him beside a mates little girl and he was practically a zombie in comparison.

surely there is someone about who knows about this. it's sooo common. have you checked the archives?

[auntymandy]

no I havent will do. its not ADHD which is the hyperactive one its ADD

[auntymandy]

Thanks for replying though!!

[auntymandy]

cant find anything!

[DaddyGhoul]

oops

[MeerkatsUnite]

www.addiss.co.uk/

This will give you more information.

[auntymandy]

thank you ..will have a look!

[Davros]

There have definitely been threads about ADHD that veer into ADD too BUT the archive search is useless! Not sure how you can find the threads, I think some were quite recent though so maybe try switching the section to Alpha, also try Behviour & Development section. Good luck, I'd give you more info if I could!

[auntymandy]

thanks. Seem to only finf ADHD everywhere I look!

[amynnixmum]

Hi auntymandy

I thought the symptoms were pretty much the same as for adhd but without the hyperactivity.
Had a quick search on the web and found
this

On FAQ's section it has this info:

My child has ADD, not AD/HD! Do you have any information on ADD?

Yes, we do.
ADD, AD/HD, hyperkinesis? It gets confusing, doesn't it?

This condition has been known for more than a hundred years, but it hasn't always been called the same thing. In the past, different labels have been used for what we now call attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD).

Why the change? The American Psychiatric Association publishes the official guidelines for naming and diagnosing mental disorders. This book (called the DSM, or "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders") is regularly updated as scientists learn more and more. Research in the 1970s and 1980s began to show there are different types of attention deficit. Although they have major differences, the types are more alike than different. Doctors began to see that the different types are all part of the same major condition. In 1994, the DSM changed the name from ADD (attention deficit disorder) to AD/HD because of the advances in research. There are three types of this one condition called AD/HD. They are: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and combined.

Some doctors and mental health professionals still use the term ADD. If this is your or your child's diagnosis, it most likely means you or your child have the inattentive type of AD/HD. This is not the child who is "bouncing off the walls" or "simply can't sit still." Rather, it's the individual who seems to be always daydreaming, is forgetful, is easily distracted, is disorganized, and just can't seem to pay attention.

Hope that helps

[amynnixmum]

Have a look at this too.

[auntymandy]

thanks. Its my 11 year old I am thinking of. He is lovely and charming, but a little 'odd' at times. Walks along quite happily then suddenly bursts into song. Shouts in public loos..often about what he is doing sings there too!!
Has no idea about socialable accepted things. wears a coat when its hot, not when its cold!! this is just a taster of what he is like!

[auntymandy]

after reading that i am not sure! he concentrates ok at school and as far as I know he doesnt disrupt classes. maybe he is just an excentric!

[amynnixmum]

auntymandy

What made you think it might be ADD? Did your Gp or a paed suggest it? Have you looked at other conditions like AS?

[auntymandy]

AS?

[amynnixmum]

Aspergers syndrome.

[auntymandy]

go on then what are the signs?
I think maybe I am looking for an excuse for his behavour!!

[amynnixmum]

Have taken this from Tony Attwood's website.

What is Asperger's Syndrome?

Dr Hans Asperger, an Austrian paediatrician, originally described Asperger?s Syndrome in 1944. The syndrome has more recently been classified as an autistic spectrum disorder. Children and adults with Asperger?s Syndrome have an intellectual capacity within the normal range, but have a distinct profile of abilities that has been apparent since early childhood. The profile of abilities includes the following characteristics:
*A qualitative impairment in social interaction:

Failure to develop friendships that are appropriate to the child?s developmental level.
Impaired use of non-verbal behaviour such as eye gaze, facial expression and body language to regulate a social interaction.
Lack of social and emotional reciprocity and empathy.
Impaired ability to identify social cues and conventions.
*A qualitative impairment in subtle communication skills:

Fluent speech but difficulties with conversation skills and a tendency to be pedantic, have an unusual prosody and to make a literal interpretation.
*Restrictive Interests:

The development of special interests that is unusual in their intensity and focus.
Preference for routine and consistency.
The disorder can also include motor clumsiness and problems with handwriting and being hypersensitive to specific auditory and tactile experiences. There can also be problems with organisational and time management skills and explaining thoughts and ideas using speech. The exact prevalence rates have yet to be determined, but research suggests that it may be as common as one in 250. The aetiology is probably due to factors that affect brain development and not due to emotional deprivation or other psychogenic factors.

The characteristics of Asperger?s Syndrome described above are based on the diagnostic criteria and current research and have also been modified as a result of my extensive clinical experience. I would like to provide a personalised description of Asperger?s Syndrome that also incorporates the person?s qualities as well as their difficulties.

From my clinical experience I consider that children and adults with Asperger?s Syndrome have a different, not defective, way of thinking. The person usually has a strong desire to seek knowledge, truth and perfection with a different set of priorities than would be expected with other people. There is also a different perception of situations and sensory experiences. The overriding priority may be to solve a problem rather than satisfy the social or emotional needs of others. The person values being creative rather than co-operative. The person with Asperger?s syndrome may perceive errors that are not apparent to others, giving considerable attention to detail, rather than noticing the ?big picture?. The person is usually renowned for being direct, speaking their mind and being honest and determined and having a strong sense of social justice. The person may actively seek and enjoy solitude, be a loyal friend and have a distinct sense of humour. However, the person with Asperger?s Syndrome can have difficulty with the management and expression of emotions. Children and adults with Asperger?s syndrome may have levels of anxiety, sadness or anger that indicate a secondary mood disorder. There may also be problems expressing the degree of love and affection expected by others. Fortunately, we now have successful psychological treatment programs to help manage and express emotions.

[auntymandy]

he has loads of friends and is quite bright..just ecentric I think!

[amynnixmum]

He may well be just eccentric and you know him best but I thought I'd mention it to you as my ds has just had a provisional diagnosis for AS. He has lots of friends too but he definately has difficulty reading social cues and this sometimes causes him difficulties. Ds doesn't fit all the criteria but he has too many of the behaviours for it to be nothing.

Some people with AS cope so well that other people don't realise they have it, others just seem a bit eccentric and others really struggle with any from of social interaction.

[auntymandy]

what do you think I should do?

[amynnixmum]

You haven't really said why you are concerned about your ds behaviour but like I said you know him and if you are concerned you should speak to your doctor and ask for a referral.

If you don't want to take that step yet then try reading up on conditions like AS and ADHD etc and seeing if your son fits the patterns of behaviours. There is bound to be loads of stuff in the mn archives.

With ds we didn't know why he was having problems and to start with I was sure he didn't have AS or ADHD but over the last year I have learned a lot more about both those conditions and it has become clear that he does display many behaviours that are associated with both.

I made a list of all the behaviour that I felt was important or different and gave it to the paed at our lat appointment and he said that he felt ds had AS. It was a bit of a shock to hear him say it but it made sense of a lot of his behaviour and difficulities.

In many ways ds is just like any other boy his age and each behaviour taken on its own does seem too unusual but when you put them altogether there is a definate pattern.

[auntymandy]

its mainly his odd outbursts!!