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.