ADD stands for attention deficit disorder with the h in ADHD meaning hyperactivity. What is it? That is a difficult question. The facts are not all present at the time being and many people question whether it is a real disorder. The truth is that there is no 100% test to diagnose ADD. It is not a disease but rather a syndrome, or a compilation of certain symptoms. I have put this page together to help dispell some myths and to give real facts and real solutions.





This is a list that I have compiled of symptoms that may or may not be used to diagnose ADD/ADHD. What is used in determining depends on the doctor you see. I have seen children with next to none of these syptoms diagnosed with this condition while others with many are "just being kids". If your child (or yourself) experiences several of these symptoms to an extreme, the suggestions offered in the next section may help. Please remember to take into account the childs everyday environment and the fact that every child is different.

  • IMPULSIVE -- completely unpreditable; can't control self; talks frequently and/or loudly; tends to overeact, alot
  • AGGRESSIVE/DESTRUCTIVE -- disruptive; mean to other children/pets; hits, bites, pinches, shoves, etc for often unapparent reasons; breaks/throws things; rips up books/other papers, etc.
  • DISTRACTABLE -- easily distracted; doesn't follow directions; doesn't finish work/projects; doesn't seem to hear directions, oreders, etc.; seems "spacey", as if "in another world"
  • HYPER -- "spastic"; contantly moving, wiggling, or fidgeting; can't sit still, runs constantly, my son was described as a super ball-the kind that never stops once started
  • DOESN'T SLEEP -- can't get child to sleep and when you do he/she is easy to wake; cries in night & has frequent bad dreams; restless- sleeps all over the bed and in strange positions; often times falls asleep wherever they are when the "steam" runs out (My daughter would go and go and go until she just crashed in strange places, like the top of the table she was playing on).
  • HABBITS -- walks on toes, chews on clothing or other non-food items, needs to touch everyhting, repetitivly speaks/sings makes up words, songs, and sounds
  • OTHER SYPTOMS -- impatient, easily irritated/frustrated; doesn't recognize danger; discipline isn't effective; my sons pupils get dialated if he has eaten an unacceptable food
  • PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS -- physical complaints such as heachaches, hives, ear infections, bed/daytime wetting, sinus problems; clumsy or accident prone; uncoordinated; jittery/ jerky movements; poor speech; minor learning dificulties




  • The Health Gazette--A page of info on ADD/ADHD.
  • ADD/ADHD--Very nice site with a lot of good links also.
  • ADD And Teens--This is directed specifically TO teens.
  • ADD Forum--I haven't had time to explore this one yet.
  • ADD Clinic--Information on ADD/ADHD, ODD, and Tourets Syndrome.



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