| ADD and ADHD is a disorder within the | | | | ADD is harder to diagnose, because there are |
| prefrontal cortex. It is believed that the | | | | no very visible symptoms of the disorder, its |
| brain wiring differs from other people. Many | | | | main symptom is the lack of attention in the |
| people view ADD as both a gift and a | | | | patient. The most typical thought when it |
| disorder, having a direct effect on all human | | | | comes to ADD, is that of a small child that |
| functions. However, it mainly affects the | | | | is extremely hyperactive. Which is the |
| executing, planning, and organizations areas | | | | picture of ADHD, which is more visible, |
| of the brain. | | | | because it creates a good deal of problems |
| | | | and distractions within a class, gaining more |
| What many people tend to focus on when a | | | | attention than ADD. ADD may be less visible |
| person has ADHD, is the fact that the patient | | | | than ADHD, but it is just as hard and |
| will have an extremely short span of | | | | destructive as its counterpart is. |
| attention, not having the ability to remain | | | | |
| focus on any one thing for a lengthy amount | | | | When a person has ADD, the sufferer will have |
| of time. People suffering from ADD are easily | | | | periods of disorganization and seem spacey. |
| distracted and their minds drift and wander | | | | To an outsider it will seem that the sufferer |
| quite easily. However, their attention span | | | | is not all together in the room, or their |
| is lengthier when confronted with something | | | | minds are elsewhere, staring out a window or |
| upsetting, interesting, stimulating, or new. | | | | something. It is extremely hard to diagnose |
| The reason being the patient is able to use | | | | ADD, because of its lack of visible symptoms, |
| the concentration area of the brain, thanks | | | | meaning that the patient can go on with life, |
| to the stimulation provided by these events. | | | | having the disorder and not even know it. |
| | | | |
| Essentially, activities that are not | | | | What about Adult Attention Deficit Disorder? |
| stimulating will not be able to hold the | | | | |
| attention of a person with ADD. Some examples | | | | When a child has ADHD, boy or girl, it has |
| of such things include paperwork, homework, | | | | been discovered that they generally do not |
| and chores. | | | | 'grow out' of the disorder as they reach the |
| | | | age of adulthood. However, the hyperactivity |
| What is the difference between ADD and ADHD? | | | | may cease to exist; the other symptoms will |
| | | | still remain. As the child reaches adulthood, |
| Because ADD (attention Deficit Disorder) is | | | | the hyperactivity is generally transformed |
| extremely complex and hard to understand it | | | | into impulsivity. |
| is in general, misunderstood by most people. | | | | |
| While the disorder is mostly psychological, | | | | Research conducted by Harris Interactive |
| there are a great many other affects that | | | | Surveys, found that of adults that have been |
| come with it as well. ADHD (Attention Deficit | | | | diagnosed with ADHD, 92% of those who did not |
| Hyperactive Disorder) and ADD are two very | | | | find out about the disorder until after they |
| different, yet similar, disorders. ADHD is | | | | turned 18 years of age, wish their diagnosis |
| the most commonly diagnosed disorder, | | | | had come sooner. The same group talked to |
| carrying symptoms of highly visible | | | | teachers and found that 90% believed that |
| impulsivity or hyperactivity, or even both. | | | | late diagnosis of the disorder had a direct |
| | | | affect on social and academic development. |