<p>About a month ago, my twin sister asked me if I thought that we might have ADD because we share this unusual character trait where we inexplicably put off very easy and simple to do tasks that result in getting into lots of trouble all of the time. Usually they are academic related, but we're both very smart and more than capable of completing any assignment. </p>
<p>Anyway, I never thought much of it. I just figured that I was never the academic type and never took school seriously.</p>
<p>So she's off at college now and seriously struggling because of this problem and it is causing her all sorts of distress. I am kind of worried about her. She literally cannot get any of her major assignments done or even started, and she is an incredibly smart person. She's not lazy, as she does tons of other activities and isn't a couch potato or anything.</p>
<p>I currently work at a market research agency. Today, seemingly out of the blue, my boss asked me if I had ADD. Maybe my behavior is indicative of someone who has ADD?</p>
<p>I am not lazy either and I do well at work - a job which requires a lot of hard work and big projects - but I have a feeling that when I go off to school next year that I'll fall in a similar situation as my sister (as what happened to both us throughout all of our schooling previously). </p>
<p>Maybe it is a perception issue with the nature of academic assignments? I used to think it was that we thought school work wasn't important, but my sister is getting into real hot water over this! I think it is some deeper psychological complex and I can't place what it is.</p>
<p>The only reason I am really in a frenzy is because, in the case of my sister, this problem has the nature of being a disorder, and somehow my boss has picked up on behavior that might be considered ADD-like?</p>
<p>How would I know if I have ADD? How do I know if it is ADD and not something else? I don't want to be one of those people that starts assigning disorders to something that doesn't exist and waste all sorts of money, but it is concerning to me that two different sources speculate that I might have ADD.</p>
<p>do indeed seem to interplay in terms of disease/disorder incidence. Twin study research has historically been utilized and remains a main means of observational/incidence study. I do not know the twin studies results on ADD but suspect you might find them without much delay.</p>
<p>Here is an easy to read link from the Center For Disease Control (CDC) on ADD/ADHD diagnostic criteria using the DSM (Diagnostic Manual IV). Don’t be put off by the pediatric emphasis as the criteria are the same for adults as I understand it.</p>
<p>Diagnosing ADHD
[CDC</a> - ADHD, Diagnosis - NCBDDD](<a href=“http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/diagnosis.html]CDC”>Symptoms and Diagnosis of ADHD | CDC)</p>
<p>The diagnosis is usually made working with any number of professionals and specialized testing educators, each of which have their place: psychologists, neuro-psychologists, physicians, learning disorder educators. </p>
<p>Formal questions and response tests on two days over a series of hours are typically done to help define the deficit(s). These are expensive, and lamentably, many major insurance companies do not cover payment for them (I have no idea why, especially in light of the recent Congressional ruling that mental health disorders require parity of coverage in health insurance to any other disorder).</p>
<p>Here is a frequented thread offering various viewpoints and opinions on College Confidential which may be of benefit:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/learning-differences-challenges-ld-adhd/235928-add-adhd-way-over-diagnosed.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/learning-differences-challenges-ld-adhd/235928-add-adhd-way-over-diagnosed.html</a></p>
<p>I hope this helps you at least begin your search for an answer to ADD, ADHD. Colleges increasingly accommodate students with documented ADD, and many have a college office specifically designed to help guide you.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice and the links to information.</p>
<p>As an update, my sister saw some doctor out west (she is out there at school) and she is now taking ADD medication. It is another hairball into the mix.</p>
<p>I really don’t want to go a doctor because I think they’ll tell me I have ADD. Silly thinking, but I really would prefer to not have it affirmed that I have ADD…</p>
<p>If you have a diagnosis, it will be easier for you to get access to information that will help you. Maybe medication is called for, maybe not. But certainly any behavioral tools that will help you better compensate for your learning and/or organizational challenges are well worth pursuing.</p>
<p>Once you have that information you are not obligated to do anything. You are free not to disclose it to school, request accommodations, or take medications-- you are free to forget all about it. But if you DO have it, it is likely affecting you in ways you don’t even see. The first time I took my ADD meds, it was like really seeing for the first time after living in a world of blur. It really felt VERY similar to my first pair of glasses. I would really recommend looking into it. Worst comes to worst you don’t have it, and now you KNOW and can find another way to fix your problem. If you don’t know what the problem is you cannot fix it, and you don’t want to flop in college.</p>
<p>Finding out you have ADD is really not that big of a deal. Tons and tons and tons of people have it. I found out I was learning and developmentally disabled when I was 20 years old-- actually REALLY disabled, like as it turns out SURPRISE! I may not be able to live independently. THAT is kind of a blow to ones psyche. ADD is not a big deal. It means practically nothing besides that you may have to employ some different strategies to be an effective student. Not a problem.</p>