Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD/ADD is a complicated diagnosis.  First of all, the H stands for Hyperactivity and you can have the disorder with or without this feature.  If you have a child or you yourself have the disorder, then it is very likely that you have heard and read many differing opinions about ADHD/ADD.  These opinions range from “this is not a real disorder” to hard science medical journals that study the disorder and everything in between.  The facts on ADHD/ADD are not as hard to find as one might think when surfing the internet.  The fact is, ADHD/ADD is a real brain disorder that is recognized by every medical association in the world.  So, before you believe the propaganda that you might see on the internet, please read any of the many books, or medical journal articles on the topic.

Children with ADHD/ADD often struggle greatly in school and this can be completely unrelated to the individual’s intelligence or desire, at least at first.  However, like anything in life, if a task like school continually brings failure, letdowns, punishments, anger from parents and teachers, then sooner or later most people are going to start to give up on school and gravitate towards things that they are more successful at.  This is what we often see with school age children and ADHD/ADD.

Whether you have a diagnosis or you are curious because you or a loved one have many of the symptoms of ADHD/ADD, consulting with a professional with twenty plus years of both personal and professional experience with this diagnosis is a wise choice.  ADHD/ADD in most circumstances is a highly manageable disorder.  As with many other disorders that we start to see in childhood, the earlier the intervention the better the outcome.  This does not mean that as an adult you cannot have great improvement with symptom management.  Whether you choose to use medication as part of your treatment or not, having a clinician to help coach parents and the person diagnosed can make the difference between success and failure, and not just in school.