Learning disability and ADD | ADHD Information

[QUOTE=EBurns]

Like other's have said, I see ADD as just a very, VERY different way to think.

Not exactly 'out of the box' thinking either.

More like we're saying "Box?!? What box? There's a box?"

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I really enjoyed this....I haven't ha ha d ha'd so much in a while...thanks

[QUOTE=Karen N][QUOTE=EBurns]

Like other's have said, I see ADD as just a very, VERY different way to think.

Not exactly 'out of the box' thinking either.

More like we're saying "Box?!? What box? There's a box?"

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I really enjoyed this....I haven't ha ha d ha'd so much in a while...thanks

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That made me giggle too. So has anyone seen the alleged box lately? I know I haven't!

[QUOTE=Taag Man]

[QUOTE=bcgirl1978]I don't see us as particularly "saturated", at least, not more so than any other average person. I think our brains just have a different way of selecting/discarding information. In our normal day to day lives, we see and hear thousands of different things. The ADD brain may catch something that the non-ADD mind would miss, and vice versa.

The difference being, besides the fact that we have a tendency to miss the "important" things, the things we DO catch will stay with us forever. That's why we seem to know a little about everything, and a lot about nothing. LOL. Just my 2 cents. [/QUOTE]

I hear you, and agree with most of it, but I have a question. If we werent "saturated"... why would we need a stimulant?

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Well, I'm not on meds, so I can't really give an honest answer to this, because I don't know how I would feel on a stimulant.

However, playing along with the "needing a stimulant" idea, I don't really believe we NEED a stimulant, so I look at it as "needing to conform to a non-ADD world". We ARE the minority here.... I mean, if the world were run by ADDers, there would be no such thing as stuffy office buildings or six-hour board meetings. We often need to catch those things that we would otherwise miss. We need the medication to stop thinking about last night's movie when we are expected to be thinking about next month's profit margins.

I dunno... ADD manifests itself differently in everyone. I don't feel I have an information overload, per se, I just think about the wrong things at the wrong time. If someone brings me three tasks all at once I freak out, and my mind FEELS overloaded, but in reality, it's like a bowling ball knocking down all the pins - my brain shuts down because it can't focus on what I ask it to focus on.

Anyway.... I think I'm rambling here, and I doubt that made any sense to anyone but me.

Maybe we are saturated.... all the things that have "stuck" over the years kind of turn into this big ball of string that just keeps rolling around and around in our heads. *shrug*

Sure, having ADHD is just a different way of thinking - just like having only one leg is merely a different way of walking...

Mark -

I don't see us as particularly "saturated", at least, not more so than any other average person. I think our brains just have a different way of selecting/discarding information. In our normal day to day lives, we see and hear thousands of different things. The ADD brain may catch something that the non-ADD mind would miss, and vice versa.

The difference being, besides the fact that we have a tendency to miss the "important" things, the things we DO catch will stay with us forever. That's why we seem to know a little about everything, and a lot about nothing. LOL. Just my 2 cents.

[QUOTE=csr19us]Maybe we are saturated for a reason? Perhaps we have an insufficiency in handling the saturation, compared to normals? Maybe normal people CAN process all this information. This is assuming of course that the information load is, on average, equal for everyone.[/QUOTE]

I am not sure why you ask this self answering retorical question? Logic dictates that there is always a reason. The question is, what is the reason? I can only relate to my own case, and hard facts. I know that ADHD people lack neurotransmitter hormones, and those hormones are responsible of transporting information between our braincells. Either we gather more information to transport, or we gather the same amount of information as normal people. I know that I notice everything, and get distracted by them. If you have seen the ADD as safe-drivers discussion, you will be able to conclude that, atleast those people process more information than normal people. Either way, we lack neurotransmitters, wich means that we get saturated quickly.

[QUOTE=csr19us]I think it could be human nature to allow all that we've accomplished to get to our heads, and consequently develop a sort of superiority complex. (a.k.a. Ego)

Maybe you're right, Taag Man... maybe we do have superior capabilities... who knows? But one thing is for certain... if we are superior, by definition, we MUST remain that way - and developing ego is not the way to do that. I can think of a young man in Germany who had that sort of mindset about 60-70 years ago.

AGAIN.... I'm NOT attacking or implying anything to any one person here!!! I can't stress this enough. This was just a commentary, and my attempt at sparking a debate here. [/QUOTE]

Could you please explain to me, wich constructive purpose this section have? You stress that it is not personal, but then please explain to me what other conclusion I could draw from this?

I hear you, and agree with most of it, but I have a question. If we werent "saturated"... why would we need a stimulant?

Like other's have said, I see ADD as just a very, VERY different way to think.

Not exactly 'out of the box' thinking either.

More like we're saying "Box?!? What box? There's a box?"

I went for testing by Yale Learning Disability Center in New Haven. It IS considered a LD. They told me that I had a LD. The ADD/ADHD effected my learning in school. You get stressed, over worked, distracted, anxiety... its hard to comprehend alot of what is being taught to you. Trust me I know. I had a very difficult time paying attention in grade school and jr high. In grade School I would get so worked up and over worked b/c i just "couldnt get it" and could "listen." I got bad grades and low self esteem b/c of it. Once jr high came around i gave up. I didnt care about school. It I wasnt interested in something or it was too complicated for me to pay attention ot grasp the idea I got really stressed out and mad at myself. By High School i had great teachers that helped me and explained things to me in different way. They made me pay attention by making class fun and holding my attention.

I truely believe that if my teacher in grade school and jr high were more patient with me and went that extra mile to just explain and help then I wouldnt still be so hard on myself. It really did effect me ALOT growing up. I have no self esteem. Im always harh on myself.

Im at work right now and i cant even sit still to do it. :( Its really annoying and stressful. If your a parent who has a child with ADD/ADHD the best advice I can offer to make your relationship a bit smoother is just listen, talk, and be PATIENT.

Goodluck with everyone!

[QUOTE=Taag Man]

I do not believe it is a Learning Disability... I think it is just another way of mind. I don't feel disabled at all. I excel at anything that I am interested in. And that I learn more "visually" than normal people. I believe we ADD people think in 3 dimensions, instead of thinking in linear terms.

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interesting, cuz I ALWAYS did very well in a class with a teacher that did lots of "HANDS ON" activities...but just sitting there and staring at books and words and papers.....just didn't agree with me...

[QUOTE=bcgirl1978] The difference being, besides the fact that we have a tendency to miss the "important" things, the things we DO catch will stay with us forever. That's why we seem to know a little about everything, and a lot about nothing. LOL. Just my 2 cents. [/QUOTE]

NIIIICCCE! I'll have to remember that one! It certainly explains a lot in a very concise simple way! Well done, LOL

Can anyone tell me the difference between a learning disability and ADD.

[QUOTE=Momma Jo]

Can anyone tell me the difference between a learning disability and ADD.

I just asked this question in another forum and nobody replied, so I'm also curious about this one.

[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Momma Jo]

Can anyone tell me the difference between a learning disability and ADD.

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ADHD (ADD) IS a learning disability. Unfortunatly it can be, and often is, so much more. More can be said about it (Technically speaking) but lets not get into the real dirt.

See your Doctor. If he does not work with the disorder, ask him to direct you to one who does. If you cannot afford the time of a professional then just go to a google or MSN search and type ADD and ADHD. The results will give you lots of references to read.
ZORG38418.390474537In the spirit of fair constructive debate, I offer this counter-argument to Taag Man and everyone else for discussion: (I'm not attacking anyone, just presenting a different and neutral point of view)

Maybe we are saturated for a reason? Perhaps we have an insufficiency in handling the saturation, compared to normals? Maybe normal people CAN process all this information. This is assuming of course that the information load is, on average, equal for everyone.

Consider this rather poor analogy (i'm not creative): Most of us humans consider lowly animals to be clearly inferior organisms. However, if you could put yourself in their shoes, with their perspective, that may not appear to be the case. For example, animals don't go to war do they? Hahaha - just kidding, but maybe you see the point?

I think it could be human nature to allow all that we've accomplished to get to our heads, and consequently develop a sort of superiority complex. (a.k.a. Ego)

Maybe you're right, Taag Man... maybe we do have superior capabilities... who knows? But one thing is for certain... if we are superior, by definition, we MUST remain that way - and developing ego is not the way to do that. I can think of a young man in Germany who had that sort of mindset about 60-70 years ago.

AGAIN.... I'm NOT attacking or implying anything to any one person here!!! I can't stress this enough. This was just a commentary, and my attempt at sparking a debate here.

Seen in perspective, perhaps people with ADD are just to bright? Perhaps our brain have grown to capable, without getting a better information relay. We do lack enough Neurotransmitters, and when we get those Neurotransmitters we do better than most people.

I feel that my brain have always acquired more information that I could process. I feel that all this information have blocked/jammed my brain in some way. And perhaps we are supposed to this way, by nature. But if we get those neurotransmitter levels up, we become better people.

I do not think that we are disabled... I think we are saturated...

It's an LD and although I got by in school w/o treatment I excel now with it.Yes, ADD/ADHD is considered a learning disability. I believe it's even covered under the Americans with Disabilities act.

However, if you wanted to get philosophical about it, you have to re-think that observation.......

My personal belief is that ADD is simply a different way of thinking... why do you think so MANY people have it? One bit of evidence is in brain waves... a person with ADD has been shown to have a predominance with Theta waves (if my memory serves me LOL), while a "normal" alert person is said to have a predominance of Alpha waves. Theta is associated with daydreaming, inattetions, etc.

On the other hand, Dr. Amen, from the Amen clinic (good site, you should check it out - just google it) has done LOTS of brain scans, and can objectively SHOW that ADD brains are receiving LESS blood flow overall.

Combine that with historical evidence of intellectual fortitude with those that may have had ADD, and you have one confusing puzzle coming together!

Part of my reason for taking part in these boards, is to help figure out what exactly ADD is (disorder, gift, etc.)

I wish you the best of luck in your journey, too.

Learning disability?? I have no trouble learning, and I bet alot of you don't either. But I have a HUGE problem "being taught" things! Anyone who decides to try to teach me something is out of luck.

As I understand it about the neurotransmitters, it is not that we lack the transmitters, but that they are taken up by the cells much more quickly than in the brain of the average person. If they are taken up as soon as they are released, there are fewer transmitters available outside of the cells to carry messages. Of course it is quite possible that this may be the case for only some people, while others are deficient in transmitters, and other people have the same number of transmitters but they are less effective. I have no idea what stimulants do on a cellular basis.

What's all this about a "box" anyway?

bcgirl wrote:
[quote]Anyway.... I think I'm rambling here, and I doubt that made any sense to anyone but me[/quote]

Au contrare! I think you made perfect sense! look at adhd-add.org inportant to look at.

I was looking at the web site Learning Disabilities this is what the it had to say:

A learning disability is a neurological disorder that affects one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using spoken or written language. The disability may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or to do mathematical calculations.

Every individual with a learning disability is unique and shows a different combination and degree of difficulties. A common characteristic among people with learning disabilities is uneven areas of ability, �a weakness within a sea of strengths.� For instance, a child with dyslexia who struggles with reading, writing and spelling may be very capable in math and science.

Learning disabilities should not be confused with learning problems which are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor handicaps; of mental retardation; of emotional disturbance; or of environmental, cultural or economic disadvantages.

Generally speaking, people with learning disabilities are of average or above average intelligence. There often appears to be a gap between the individual�s potential and actual achievement. This is why learning disabilities are referred to as �hidden disabilities:� the person looks perfectly �normal� and seems to be a very bright and intelligent person, yet may be unable to demonstrate the skill level expected from someone of a similar age.

A learning disability cannot be cured or fixed; it is a lifelong challenge. However, with appropriate support and intervention, people with learning disabilities can achieve success in school, at work, in relationships, and in the community.

In Federal law, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the term is �specific learning disability,� one of 13 categories of disability under that law.

[QUOTE=boggled]

Learning disability?? I have no trouble learning, and I bet alot of you don't either. But I have a HUGE problem "being taught" things! Anyone who decides to try to teach me something is out of luck.

What's all this about a "box" anyway?

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Damn, right on.. i forgot that argument. I am a quick learner... but I can't be taught either.

Hm, if those neurotransmitters are taken up more quick that with other persons, that would explain why, atleast som of us, have the feeling that we think more quickly that normal people, because the neurotransmitters are "taken up" when they have carried a message I think.