[jpj157]

I need some advice on getting tested for ADHD or ADD. I've had issues paying attention my whole life but my parents passed them off because I did alright in school. Especially when I was younger, but as the material got harder over the years, it really became hard for me to keep up and stay focused. I have issues focusing; constantly I find myself daydreaming and I'll miss a whole class period of learning. Or i'll attempt to start studying but I'll find something else and hours will past and it'll be too late. Or in conversations, sometimes the simplest ones, I just zone out or I jump subjects a lot. Sometimes no matter how hard I try to stay focused i can't and its really frustrating because I can't do well in my school. Its also hard for me to say still and be patient, Thats probably childish, but I have so much trouble with just sitting.. People (including teachers) have asked me sometimes if I have ADD or ADHD just because of how jumpy and unfocused i am, but I haven't gotten a REAL diagnosis. And I'm really struggling to figure out how i can help myself because I've told my parents but they don't believe me. I'm not sure what to do, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[healingme4me]

Could you meet with a school counselor and find out how to get tested?

[jpj157]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

Could you meet with a school counselor and find out how to get tested?

I tried testing but the results came back negative...not enough information to qualify for the diagnosis. Are there any other ways to help with attention issues?

[kanasi]

How thorough were they about testing you (in case you can get a second opinion)? Did they (or you) ask your parents about your behaviour as a child? Unfortunately, according to Dr. Russell Barkley (a leading researcher in the US whose talks are available under UCTV on Youtube), those with AD/HD are notoriously bad at noticing their own symptoms.

As I await an opportunity to be evaluated myself (I hesitated to answer you earlier because I'm not diagnosed!), I've asked my parents about my behaviour in childhood. My mother had two examples and my father had another of how hyper I apparently was before the cut off for symptoms appearing. I knew I was a "tomboy" but those answers were surprising. This is despite me not telling my mother yet about my suspicions about myself, and my father insisting all the while that I was normal. Did your doctor or anyone screen for conditions like hypothyroidism or iron deficiency (and do note this interesting argument that all adult ferritin levels should be in the same range currently listed for men regardless of sex and not as low for as is typically listed for women)?

Outside of that, a nutritious diet and adequate exercise can help. In my own case I don't have as much trouble with listening to people talk as I do keeping things in short term memory and sticking to tasks that I start, so the solutions I've been seeking are for those types of issues. (I don't have much but I'm happy to share those if you want.)

[Hat9195]

Originally Posted by jpj157

I need some advice on getting tested for ADHD or ADD. I've had issues paying attention my whole life but my parents passed them off because I did alright in school. Especially when I was younger, but as the material got harder over the years, it really became hard for me to keep up and stay focused. I have issues focusing; constantly I find myself daydreaming and I'll miss a whole class period of learning. Or i'll attempt to start studying but I'll find something else and hours will past and it'll be too late. Or in conversations, sometimes the simplest ones, I just zone out or I jump subjects a lot. Sometimes no matter how hard I try to stay focused i can't and its really frustrating because I can't do well in my school. Its also hard for me to say still and be patient, Thats probably childish, but I have so much trouble with just sitting.. People (including teachers) have asked me sometimes if I have ADD or ADHD just because of how jumpy and unfocused i am, but I haven't gotten a REAL diagnosis. And I'm really struggling to figure out how i can help myself because I've told my parents but they don't believe me. I'm not sure what to do, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I am 56 years old and just diagnosed with ADHD. Your story is my story. I am sure your parents love you but they need to hear what your saying. Go to school counselor and ask them to either give you or tell you where you can get printed material on ADD and ADHD. If they cannot it will be up to you to find it. Google it or look it up in the library. Read everything you can about it. Read diagnosing and treatment. Read other people's stories and what their symptoms are and how they got help for it. When you think you are educated on those things go to your parents again and show them the materials you researched. Ask them again and tell them this problem is interfering with you learning and you feel like you are falling behind in study's and that you are afraid you may not have a good future. You can have a good future with or without their help. There are tests for diagnosing. You need to see a psychiatrist and not a psychologist. They must be an MD. Sit and talk to him or her and let them know what you are experiencing. I recommend that you think about exactly what you want to happen and what you want for your future before going to them. Write it out on paper what your goi g through and what you want for your future. They will talk to you and make a recommendation. Once that is given to you think about it and see if you can and are willing to go along with the plan. If you are let them know and if not you will need to decide what you are going to do about it. You mention working memory. That is what I am focusing on now. Play word games, count, say words and try to remember one and then two and so on. It may seem overwhelming but your young and you can and should turn it around now or else you will be living with a lot of regrets lime I was. I do t live with regret now because I chose not to by sharing my story. I hope this helps you a little and remember you can do this. You are getting to know your brain. Your unique and one of kind. You have much to offer the world so it is worth figuring out how your brain works so you can get the most out of it. Best of luck to you and never give up. You can do anything. Figure out how your brain works and it will take you to so serous places. Don't be afraid of it either. Many people are in the same situation. Take good care.