In our busy modern world, the terms ADD (attention deficit disorder) and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is sometimes overused. Teachers who find kids to be unruly and daydreaming send notes home to parents and tell them, “Your child is not functioning. You should have him tested for ADD (attention deficit disorder),” or something like that. The problem is that not all behaviors that are disruptive in the classroom are caused by attention deficit. That’s true of adults, as well. We may all experience ADD-type behaviors now and then, but the fact that we’re often distracted may not mean that we have attention deficit.

These types of symptoms may arise for many different reasons. In fact, some of us have strong ADD tendencies without having the disorder at all. In the case of kids misbehaving, they could be acting out their anger or frustration about something happening in school or even at home. Adults who have cluttered houses may just be slobby people. They don’t necessarily have attention deficit.

A major problem with finding out who does and who doesn’t have ADD or ADHD is that their are no blood tests, no scans, no counts, none that measure a person’s level of ADD. The only method of discovery currently is a set of very extensive tests that will cover events in a person’s life. But here’s the issue:

You can just SNAP! get attention deficit overnight. It’s genetic. You have it or you don’t have it when you’re born. Just because someone has trouble getting things done, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have attention deficit.

So, how do you find out? The first thing you should do is go to InstantADDSuccess.com and take the preliminary test. If you find that the test is positive, then seek out professional help. Beware of family physicians who send you on your way with a quick prescription. You need to see a psychologist or other mental health pro, who can give you an extensive battery of questioning. This will help you to determine if you have the disorder or not. The tests can be expensive and you may not think that some of the questions are relevant, especially when the testing extends to your parents. But all of the questions you’ll be asked are highly important in a proper diagnosis.

Try to remember that peace of mind is worth quite a lot, and you’re on that path. You need to get to the heart of the problem and see what’s causing your symptoms. If you find you have ADD, great! You can deal with it. If you don’t, well… Find a way to deal with what is bothering you. Getting a positive diagnosis is your first step in the right direction.

Many people with ADD find it very difficult to stick to a four-year program at college and to get their degrees. College can be hard for anyone when there are 5 papers due all on the same day. But you have the added handicap of being easily bored and quickly finding distraction. So, though it’s no cakewalk for any college student, getting your degree can be particularly hard when you have ADD.

How can that be helped?

Find a school that will work with you and your ADD. Most colleges require 15 credits to be classified as a full-time student, but most will also allow you to take fewer credits, though you’ll only be classified as part-time. If this isn’t a tax issue for you or your parents, being a part-time student with fewer classes to worry about may be a solution for you.

Another solution would be to take fewer of the required courses that you find it hard to deal with. Maybe take one of those per semester, and fill your schedule with classes that you do like. For instance, what if you absolutely, positively have to take Algebra and Trig during your first semester, and find it very difficult to deal with math? One solution would be to take creative writing, art history, and psychology 101 or any other low-level class, or whatever classes appeal to you, as asides. When you’re studying, be sure to give yourself a half hour of math (if you can concentrate that long), a half hour of something you like to do, and then, back to math of another half hour. Or, if your attention span is only 15 minutes, start with math, move to creative writing for 15 minutes, then art history for 15 minutes, and psychology 101 can make up the rest of your hour. Just keep doing this for as many hours as you need to really get cranking with math.

Or, you’ll have to find a more flexible college. Some will allow you to design your own major, which is ideal for people with ADD. That way, you’ll be concentrating on subjects that you know you can enjoy and really put your hyperfocus into gear and make it work for you.

The whole thing should be about finding a college that’s right for you. If you’re in school now and having a terrible time at it, transfer to a school that understands your ADD. That comes even before you look for the money because there are always scholarships that you can employ. Yet, if you don’t find the right school, you may end up only hoping for a degree instead of really earning one.

How kids interact with other kids around them is one indicator of how well they will develop in life. Some will do well, and others will continue to struggle throughout adulthood. But if they have ADD, they will probably have trouble making friends or be outright rejected by their classmates when they’re very young. If you don’t recognize the signs, these ADD kids will often have the most trouble as they grow into adulthood.

Trouble with peers often shows itself early because some kids with ADD lack control in the classroom. This irritates the kids around them, just as much as it annoys the teacher. The ADD kid often requires more of the teacher’s attention, making the other kids feel slighted, and they see this child as the “bad” kid in the classroom. This is especially true in the early grades when kids are forming relationships and becoming part of a group. The child with attention deficit is left out because they aren’t like the other kids in the group.

Social skills training can be very helpful if provided when these problems appear. If your child is ADD, you may find that he or she will do much better with a little guidance. Social skills training teaches them specific ways to make and keep friends, and the counseling includes help with conversational skills, ways to manage conflict, becoming part of a group, and managing anger.

Yet, not all kids with attention deficit are so easily recognized. Without the hyperactivity component, the child may not be seen as having ADD until he or she is older. This can happen as late as middle school. They aren’t usually behavior problems and can usually get by in elementary school when the academics are less demanding. People with attention deficit tend to be highly intelligent, and can make it through the early grades with minimal trouble. But as they move into higher elementary grades and middle school, they get more homework, have multiple teachers, and that’s when the struggle begins.

Because their performance level has changed, these kids are often labeled “lazy.” This can make them lose their motivation and the whole thing spills even further into their social lives. Their self-esteem drops rapidly and nobody understands what’s wrong. They tend to feel very alone and very much like losers.

But they aren’t losers! They have ADD, and parents need to be aware of what’s going on in their children’s lives. Parents can’t smooth out every bump in the road, but if you see your child struggling to make friends and having trouble in the classroom early on, attention deficit could be the issue. Get a proper diagnosis and some social skills training to help them. If they’re older and you realize that their schoolwork is suffering, they may have been having attention deficit issues all along. Get them help for their ADD and the help they need to make it through school. Remember, they’re probably very smart and can do the work. You just have to get them the help they need to pay attention.