ADD/ADHD is not new. The name has just been changed. There is a high co-morbidity with dyslexia, with 60-70% of individuals with ADD having dyslexia as well. Unfortunately, currently ADD/ADHD is predominantly being identified and addressed through a single symptom, attention concentration or the behavioral aspect, as opposed to the more pervasive language, perceptual, and processing deficits which also exist.
General Characteristics Of Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Disorders:
Spotty performance on IQ tests: high in some areas, low in others; IQ scores decline by age 12
Poor visual motor perception resulting in handwriting and copying problems
Poor reading skills or poor comprehension skills
Poor phonological awareness
Poor ability to deal with time, which makes them have problems in organizing, settingand maintaining goals, realizing what their behaviors or choices will "cost" in the future
Poor spatial orientation resulting in poor handwriting and problems with "reading" body language
Impaired auditory processing problems, so that sometimes they cannot remember instructions or they "mis-hear" what they have been told
Speech irregularities
Variability in performance -- able to do something one time and not another time
Literal interpretation of language with difficulty with nuances, transferring or generalization of information, and more difficulty developing morals and ethics
Attention and concentration deficits
High incidence of allergies, alcoholism, diabetes, learning problems, and thyroid disorders in their families or themselves

Addressing the single characteristic of attention/concentration through drug therapy is counterproductive and has long-term negative effects. Diagnosing a child or adult as ADD/ADHD based on this single characteristic is also erroneous. Other medical and behavioral problems also have attention/concentration or hyperactivity as a symptom, such as brain damage, nutritional and vitamin deficiencies, behavioral and emotional disorders, thyroid deficiency, environmental toxin exposure, etc. It is critical that a thorough differential diagnostic battery be administered to properly diagnose ADD/ADHD. There is no check sheet or inventory sufficient to diagnose ADD/ADHD properly.

 

Home

Identify

Services

Directors

Updates

Seminars

Research Projects

Resources

Materials

Links

Contact

We welcome your thoughts on our services and materials. Please click here to contact us and share your thoughts.

Contact

Guestbook

Webmaster