Late Diagnosis of ADD inattentive? | ADHD Information

Hey guys, I'm new here! I'm 18 and have been having problems in school, mainly in Algebra. The thought never crossed my mind that I could possibly have ADD. I was always under the impression you had to be hyperactive as well as inattentive to be classified as having ADD.

A friend in one of my classes pointed out how I'm never paying attention, and always staring off into space. I was aware I did this but I didn't think it could be ADD related. He told me I should go see a doctor.

My mom doesn't believe I have it and thinks I'm just lazy and I don't study/try hard enough. She doesn't understand though, I really can't sit there and study without getting bored. She's also under the impression that it has to run in your family for you to have it. Is this true?

I took the ADD test at: http://www.amenclinic.com/ac/addtests/. The results said I was highly probable for ADD inattentive type. I had never heard of this before so I looked up the symptoms, and I think I exhibit most of them and I think my dad does too but I haven't told him that.
In class when we take notes I usually write down less than half the notes then I space out and I don't even realize It until we're finished with nots.

1)I always put my homework off and tend to not do it at all.
2)I can't sit down and read a book for English because I just begin to day dream and don't comprehend anything after that. I find myself day dreaming a lot sometimes even mumbling things to myself.
4)I tend to make a lot of careless mistakes especially on tests and quizes at school.
3)I'm bored very easily. I actually got a car that was manual because I thought automatic was boring.
4)I'm always tired even if I don't stay up late, sometimes I'll nap during the day.
5)Everyone tells me I'm unemotional and apathetic
6)I've always been very quiet and shy especially when I was little. My teachers always told my mom they wished they had more kids like me.

Anyways basicly what I want to know is:
Does ADD have to run in your family for you to have it?
and
What are your opinions? Based off what I described do you guys think I could have ADD inattentive type?

Hella,

Everyone has trouble w/algebra.  But seriously.  Your Mom's reaction is typical of that of the society in general and of parents in particular.  It is important to take stock of the specific comments that your Mom made.  "lazy", "don't try hard enough".  These are how most people would interpret what they see in the ADDer.  The statements are not based in truth, of course.  I hope that you will go to school counselors and to get the book "Scattered" from the library.  Once you are able to, get med. insurance and get tested.  See posts in this forum that others have written regarding whom to tell about the impairment, assuming you have it.  Each family and circle of aquaintences is different but reading the posts will give you some clues.

I would suggest that you get tested.  YOu sound like ADD.  I took the Amen test too and from there I went to the Doc where I was diagnosed with ADD.  I am glad I know now that I have it.

Yes, it does have a genetic basis.  It is not a black-or-white issue, though.  If you have ADD there's an 85% chance that your offspring will also have ADD.

Remember, all of the symptoms of ADD are things "normal" people do on occasion.  People with ADD just do them to excess, enough so that they get in the way of a normal life.

I was diagnosed with ADD at age 48.  The only reason we found it was that our 11 year old adopted daughter showed symptoms of ADHD.  She was obvious, couldn't sit still, inattentive, etc.  As my wife went the workup of our daughter, she was amazed at how well I fit most of the patterns.  After I was diagnosed we spent some time thinking about which one of my parents had it.  My wife and I came to the same conclusion, it was my mom.  She's lived her whole life without a diagnosis.

Your symptoms do sound like ADD.  Find a doctor that specializes in ADD, your family practice physician will probably not figure it out.  Your father may very well have ADD and he has developed coping skills that enable him to get by without a diagnosis and medication.

My doctor also has ADHD.  It's obvious; finger tiwtching, etc.  He does not take and medication because he hasn't found any that work for him.  He structures his life very highly and uses those support structures to keep on track without any medication.

Erik