Children are being labeled all across the world with diagnosis the of ADD/ADHD. ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder) can seem like a common term for what we adults deal with everyday; whether it is us or our children. My 8 year old's school has been suggesting since the age of 5 that there is "something" going on, she just can't stay focused! She was tested for a learning disability, as her Pediatrician suggested was the first step. She was tested in her school, provided by the State, a simple test to see if she had some kind of learning disability. This test is your child's right. My daughter passed that test, so no there was no learning disability. But research suggests that ADHD can cause children to develop a learning disability, which makes sense; no focus during instruction=important information missed. ADD/ADHD can not be diagnosed through any medical tests, it relies mainly on check lists, charts, questions filled out by parents, teachers and sometimes medical specialists or evaluators. And ADD/ADHD must be tested in two settings. Usually this means, school as well as home, eventhough it is most picked up by teachers who see the children for most of their day.

Now on taking a closer look as a parent. I have seen my daughter being able to pay attention to what she wants to pay attention to. Icarly, Hannah Montana, etc are her favorite shows, she can watch marathons and marathons of the shows and summarize each and everyone at the end. Children with the above mentioned disorders can have low comprehension skills, because they are not able to focus again while reading, they miss out on the information and at the end can't summarize it or understand what they did or did not read/hear. And research also suggests these children are very bright and intelligent, maybe even more than other children who do not have the condition. Contradicting? I have noticed my daughter losing focus when discussions get too long, or "boring" for her. And I have seen her pay attention for long periods of time when it is something that interests her, like her favorite tv shows, games, activities with other children.

My daughter is extremely energetic at home. She has 3 younger sistes, and by far she is the most energetic, in other words, hyper. The school suggests that she is very disciplined and quiet. She is a very social person at home and when she is around family members and other people, but school suggests she needs to work on her social skills. At home she hates sitting by herself and is easily stimulated with activity around her, but school mentions that she prefers to work by herself and is in "la la land." most of the time. It seems like we are talking about two different children. She does now receive social skills provided to her through the school system, during school. She is being provided with an "IEP" (Individualized Educational Program) in school as well. I find this very helpful because classrooms packed with 28-32 children, many kids will be distracted and will need that individual attention. I think the IEP is a benefit to children with ADD/ADHD as well as kids who are easily distracted. The one on one attention is something that all kids deserve, but ofcourse it is not possible. I am glad that the IEP services are being provided in a classroom setting with all the other children, and that she is not pulled out into another classroom to recieve these services. She may or may not have the condition, but what would all this do to her self-confidence and self-esteem?

Children don't want to be different, they hate the word "different." My daughter has a beautiful beauty mark on her face, and her other sisters don't. She has asked me many times to cover it up or have it removed because it makes her look different. Explaining and undestanding "differences" can seem like an everlasting battle during childhood years. It is something we all learn as we experience, and sometimes even though we understand, we don't accept the differences. I could never let my daughter who may or may not have a disability, a daugther who is aware of everything around her and who is already so self-conscious be put in a situation that labels her as "different." It is good to know about a disability, it's the 1st step to a possible recovery, but on the other hand it can damage self-esteem and confidence.

My daughter is aware of her possible disability, because everyone around her is always saying "pay attention" or "can't you pay attention?" But she plays it off really well. A friend of mine said to me while discussing my daugther, "When I was young, I was so tired of learning stuff I already knew, that I just didn't want to pay attention" I'm not saying this is the case with every child on the road to being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, but it can be in some.

I understand that everyone has to have learned something in order to know it. People learn through different methods, and at different speeds. The question is, can they learn? If the child in this case has learned something, that means they can be taught. So the real questions being asked should be, " Do you want to pay attention?"

It is a long road, as my daughter is just going into the 4rth grade now. It is going to get tougher and tougher for her in school. Most of the learning process relies mainly on retaining information, memorizing, and applying skills. She just has to learn how to concentrate, and focus when needed to, not only when she wants to.

The answers lie in the questions themselves. Be and advocate for yourself and your child. Make this gift or disability (up to you to decide) your strength, not your weakness. We know ourselves, and our children more than anyone else. School and doctors are there for our help and are an important part of our life. And for those who really do have ADD/ADHD, please do seek the best advice and treatments from qualified professionals.

Just a thought, sometimes children or adults are not challenged enough, or are easily distracted. Simple as that. That doesn't require a diagnosis or any treatment. Just understanding, and learning how to improve. If you can learn, you can be taught!