I've heard ADD described on this forum and elsewhere as a developmental delay. My question is, is it possible to have ADD and yet not have developmental delays, or co-morbid learning disorders? Would it, in the absence of these, be just a personality trait?
I was on the ball for learning to speak, walk (I think), read (slightly slow but within 'normal range'), write, tell left from right (very early on, in fact), tie shoelaces (8 1/2 years) and ride a bike (9 years old) etc. The only thing that stood out very early on was "short attention span"/ doesnt listen to instructions all the way back from pre-nursery.

Developmental delays are judgement and ADHD Teenagers tend to lag 4-6 years behind their age peers in social and emotional maturity.

My question is, is it possible to have ADD and yet not have developmental delays, or co-morbid learning disorders?

I am guessing you may be intersted in the answer according to meainstream medical science version which says pretty much this . . . .

over all main stream view (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1249/is_1_72/ai_53889667)

These difficulties in self-regulation represent a delay in development rather than a halt in development. This means, that with age, people diagnosed with ADHD will always be improving, but they will always be behind their same-aged, non-ADHD peers. The ADHD person does not, age appropriately, gain the progressively internalized capabilities of self-control.***End Quote


As this indicates they are not necessarily saying all portions of development delays are indicative of ADD just certain aspects. Learning disabilities them selves for me normally refer to dyslexia or dyscalculia. However the developmental delays described above can also be refereed to as learning disabilities. This could cause some confusion. To prevent this LD to me will mean dyslexia or dyscalculia . . . . . .

Although a significant percentage of ADDer do have co-morbid learning difficulties { dyslexia or dyscalculia} when compared to the population at large not all ADD have LD. In the ADD population apx 25-35% of ADDer also have LD where as the general population the occurrence of LD is around 2% so there is a significant difference.

I shared a main stream variation because that is what is accepted by most and what a majority accept as truth. My disclaimer is when it comes to ADD any realities shared by me as a person and main stream science are purely coincidental