are there certain physical traits among those with ADD that you have noticed.. i feel like ive noticed some but maby im just odd or hang out with those who look like me x.x lol

As far as I know there are no physical traits for ADHD.

Me :D

I just did some digging on the internet. I google searched for "ADHD white matter abnormalities." (less quotes) and I found tons of stuff about ADHD and brain abnormalities.

In essence, people who have ADHD often have either too little or too much white matter (connective nerves) in the frontal lobes of the brain and in other areas too. Mostly in areas affecting attention , sensory procesing and motor control.


Also, some people with ADHD have a larger cranium size (megalocephaly), but not all ADDer's have this feature...it's just more common in people with adhd than it is in people who do not have ADHD.


ME :D

If a physical trait of ADHD is being sooo ****ing sexy, then I fit the description. ;-D

Also, some people with ADHD have a larger cranium size (megalocephaly), but not all ADDer's have this feature...it's just more common in people with adhd than it is in people who do not have ADHD.


ME :DNo way! I don't remember reading about this and I never forget anything. LOL! I wore adult sized hats at age ten and was always self-conscious about my larger than the average pinhead cranium until I read that large cranium means larger brain. :cool:

bad motor coordination

bad motor coordinationNot true for everyone with AD/HD.

Speaking of physical traits, I've been having a conversation with HighFunctioning over in the ADD Science forum that deals with a possible link between Introversion / Extraversion traits with AD/HD Inattentive and Hyperactive.

The link being in how Introversion and Extraversion show identifable differences in brain composition, and possibly in areas that are linked with AD/HD Inattentive and Hyperactive.

Yup, it's true. I ran into a study on it by accident when researching white matter abnormalities a few months ago. I also seem to recall that ADDers are a little more likely than autistics yo have a larger cranium size.

I'm marginal for megalocephaly. My doc says it might be part of my physique.... but I'mright on the edge for someone my height (24.5 inches). I'm 5' 4" and I bought a new motorcycle helmet size XL and it is a tad too small for me. Some people just have larger heads... but as a disorder one theory holds that an overgrowth of the brain forces the cranium to expand more in childhood. As a result some areas of the brain can be a bit compressed and deformed due to confinement by the cranium. This scenario has been specualtively implicated as just one cause of retardation and autism.

Also, too much grey matter can be a problem as the ratio of grey matter to white matter is important for a brain that is wired correctly. Too much or too little grey matter relative to white matter and you end up with things like ADHD , TS or PDD. So a bigger brain might or might not be better. :eek:


Me :D

No way! I don't remember reading about this and I never forget anything. LOL! I wore adult sized hats at age ten and was always self-conscious about my larger than the average pinhead cranium until I read that large cranium means larger brain. :cool:

Here is another one:

people with adhd tend to have an index finger shorter than their ring finger. The ratio of the two also varies depending on which subtype!

Also, people with autism also tend to have a relatively short index finger.

It turns out that a short index finger is an expression of maleness. In the case of ADDers and autistics it mens prenatal exposure to male hormones....

Me :D

Here is another one:

people with adhd tend to have an index finger shorter than their ring finger.
Me :DO.k. this is true for me and my daughter because we have identical hands (why don't mine play piano as well as hers do?)
Anything about toes?

I was born with a head size off the charts. I can't find a hat that fits me to this day, and have a real hard time finding any sort of helmets. Really sucks.

bad motor coordination

I can shoot the wings off a fly with a nail gun. Gary and I are both ADD and both of us have good hand eye coordination.

Gary can preform some really cool jumps and stuff and not even be thinking about it. He walks across crap that should fall under his weight alone while carry heavy crap above his head. He will not just do it once he will do it several times and God only knows what keeps him from crashing to the ground because what he is doing is often against the laws of physics. . . . .


When I was still dating him he was wanting to stack more pallets on top of an already tall stack that was above his head so he walked over to the stack he wanted to remove pallets from, he climbed up it then stood with his feet in the holes lifted up this really large pallet held it above his head while he climbed on top of the reaming ones and then walked over the top of several stacks to the stack he wanted to add the pallet above his head to. He accomplishes this by jumping off the stack of pallets and placing the pallet he is holding above his head on the top of the stack as he is passing it by. He does this about four or five times people are stopped watching him. . .he wants to know wtf those idiots are looking at. . . . . noticing how acrobatic he was I told him he belonged in the circus. . . . .

Which leads me nicely to my personal theory of an ADD common physical trait . . . . . . . :foot: .

My head circumference is 23.5 inches (59.7 cm) around. Which is right at average for a 73 inch (185 cm) tall male according to this body proportions calculator: http://robyn.faeriemanor.org/BodyProportions.phtml

Index:Ring finger ratio is bizarre at .902. That's on both hands.

I have and have always had excellent motor coordination.

I'm also left-handed, which may be worth noting.

my head is 24 inches and im 6'2 and my motor skills are good to go.

My index fingers are the same length as my ring fingers and I have a normal head size and my motor skills used to be great but meds make them worse.
My AD/HD (self medicated) son's index fingers are way shorter than the ring fingers and he has a cantelope (small) head size and normal motor skills.
I read somewhere that a majority of successful TV people have abnormally large heads - translates better through the cameras?

My index finger is shorter than my ring finger.
My fine motor skills are superior.
My coarse motor skills are low average.

Me :D

I just found another trait for ADHD.

It seems that many ADDers have an atypical brain lateralization.

it goes like this....

You can be left handed or right handed. The handedness does not matter. By the age of 7 Your brain is fully lateralized. If you are right brained, you are probably left handed you will likely be left eyed and favor your left foot, etc...

In the case of some ADDers the lateralization is inconsistent... For example; you can be left handed and left footed, but might be right eyed.

I also know that some ADDers are not very lateralized and are ambidextrious.

Me :D

Here is a link to a simple right/left brain quiz.

http://www.similarminds.com/brain.html

I test 48% right brain and 52% left left brain. Yes, I'm functionally ambidextrious, but I write with my left hand. I use tools with either hand. I think I might be right-eyed, and I favor my left foot.
I've also been noted to test as slightly right brained even though this time the quiz says I'm more left brained.

Is anybody else out there insconsistently lateralized like this ?

Me :D

86% Right-brained, 12% Left-brained.

"Right brain dominant individuals are more visual and intuitive. They are better at summarizing multiple points, picking up on what's not said, visualizing things, and making things up. They can lack attention to detail, directness, organization, and the ability to explain their ideas verbally, leaving them unable to communicate effectively."

Sounds exactly like me.

My lateralization? I am left-ear, left-eye, left-hand, and left-foot dominant. The whole left side of my body feels better tuned in general.

54% right
40% left

Im almost well rounded here lol

68% Right brain
32% Left brain

Left brain dominant individuals are more orderly, literal, articulate, and to the point. They are good at understanding directions and anything that is explicit and logical. They can have trouble comprehending emotions and abstract concepts, they can feel lost when things are not clear, doubting anything that is not stated and proven.



Right brain dominant individuals are more visual and intuitive. They are better at summarizing multiple points, picking up on what's not said, visualizing things, and making things up. They can lack attention to detail, directness, organization, and the ability to explain their ideas verbally, leaving them unable to communicate effectively.

Very intresting.... :rolleyes:

Now, here is a test for eye dominance.

I *thought* I was right-eyed, but according to this test I am left eyed. :p

http://www.archeryweb.com/archery/eyedom.htm


Try it, it is easy.

Here i smore info on being left/right sided;

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/project_ideas/MamBio_p013.shtml

Me :D

Right Brain |||||||||| 36%
Left Brain |||||||||||||| 60%

Strange, last time I did this I recieved a higher score in my right side. Perhaps this has to do with my attempts to organize myself and become more consistent.

right eye dominant

Some people can switch left-right (no hemispheric dominnce). Also, I think mood affects how you score on these tests.

Me :D

Asymmetrical Brain Lateralization has also been found in some studies to be a result of early psychological trauma.

Things can be caused by many factors ofcourse.

http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/10/3/298

Right brain 60% Left brained 34%, scatter brained {not other wise specified}must be where the remaining 6%went.


I am right handed, ambidextrous footed { I can place either in my mouth with equaly accuracy} and left eyed {according to my eye doctor}.

<<left handed, left-eyed, left-footed. ambidexterous with hands and feet, but not eyes.(everything in this world is for right handed people, had to learn to adjust for guitar, drumset, etc.) Its hard to tell by my handwriting though because my handwriting is equally illegible no matter which hand i write with... i even remember getting a paper back once and school and couldnt read my own handwriting-- no clue how my teacher could, got a B+(was an A+ but marked down for gramatical errors, repeating words, etc). Anyway, I type everything now, except for quick notes, handwriting is crappy.... and I now hate my teachers for torturing me through cursive handwriting, when I have never used it and will never use it(unless teaching someone else how to do it).

There are for certain mental disorders, but no, most ADDers aren't Dysmorphic or anything. LOL

Brain Lateralization Test Results
Right Brain |||||||||| 32%
Left Brain |||||||||||||| 54%

*results won't usually add up to 100% as this test measures each side seperately

Left brain dominant individuals are more orderly, literal, articulate, and to the point. They are good at understanding directions and anything that is explicit and logical. They can have trouble comprehending emotions and abstract concepts, they can feel lost when things are not clear, doubting anything that is not stated and proven.


Right brain dominant individuals are more visual and intuitive. They are better at summarizing multiple points, picking up on what's not said, visualizing things, and making things up. They can lack attention to detail, directness, organization, and the ability to explain their ideas verbally, leaving them unable to communicate effectively.

Overall you appear to be Left Brain Dominant

-----------------------------------------

According to Darwinian theory, optimal evolution takes place with random variation and selective retention. The evolution savvy individual will try many different approaches when faced with a problem and select the best of those approaches. Many historical intellectuals have confessed their advantage was simply considering/exploring/trying more approaches than others. The left brain dominant type suffers from limited approaches, narrow-mindedness. The right brain dominant type suffers from too many approaches, scatterbrained. To maintain balanced hemispheres, you need to exercise both variability and selection. Just as a company will have more chance of finding a great candidate by increasing their applicant pool, an individual who considers a wider set of options is more likely to make quality decisions.

Right Brain||||||||||||||||64%
Left Brain||||||28%

*results won't usually add up to 100% as this test measures each side seperately

Left brain dominant individuals are more orderly, literal, articulate, and to the point. They are good at understanding directions and anything that is explicit and logical. They can have trouble comprehending emotions and abstract concepts, they can feel lost when things are not clear, doubting anything that is not stated and proven.



Right brain dominant individuals are more visual and intuitive. They are better at summarizing multiple points, picking up on what's not said, visualizing things, and making things up. They can lack attention to detail, directness, organization, and the ability to explain their ideas verbally, leaving them unable to communicate effectively.

Overall you appear to be Right Brain Dominant

Right Brain |||||||||||||| 56% Left Brain |||||||||| 36%

Which leads me nicely to my personal theory of an ADD common physical trait . . . . . . . http://addforums.com/forums/images/smilies/footinmouth.gif .

__________________I don't think I want to hear any more :-)

ok..I have a big head..LOL..physically (and sometimes emotionally..ok..always emotionally) and I struggle to find a hat that fits ;-)

I have the "aura", the one that goes hand in hand with hyperactive children, the ones you look at and can tell just by how they look, the ones that all of the little old ladies look at in church and say "he's a troublemaker", the whole Dennis the Menace, Demon Child vibe, it is harsh to describe it in that way, but there are some kids that you can look at and the thought "He needs adderall" just pops into your mind...

I have the "aura", the one that goes hand in hand with hyperactive children, the ones you look at and can tell just by how they look, the ones that all of the little old ladies look at in church and say "he's a troublemaker", the whole Dennis the Menace, Demon Child vibe, it is harsh to describe it in that way, but there are some kids that you can look at and the thought "He needs adderall" just pops into your mind...OMG!! that is what I MEANT TO SAY:eek: :eek: :p except i didn't

I have so much time for kids like me ;-)

I am scared to have kids like me

If a physical trait of ADHD is being sooo ****ing sexy, then I fit the description. ;-D
Hey that's my line :D

As far as I can tell, there are no physical traits associated with ADHD. Nothing in the research suggests such.

Just found the link to the quiz. I am: Right brain 48% Left brain 42%. Pretty equal.

^What she said. (To poster) How many people with ADD have you met? Why do you wonder if people with ADD have anything that's physically unique about them?

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee286/mspen1018/aFu_CatBite.gifhttp://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif Looks like the cat of someone with ADD. LOL. Maybe the owner scares his cat.

Brain Lateralization Test Results

<TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 bgColor=#dddddd border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Right Brain</TD><TD width=50>||||||||||||||</TD><TD width=30>52%</TD></TR><TR><TD>Left Brain</TD><TD width=50>||||||||||</TD><TD width=30>38%</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>*results won't usually add up to 100% as this test measures each side seperately

Also, some people with ADHD have a larger cranium size (megalocephaly), but not all ADDer's have this feature...it's just more common in people with adhd than it is in people who do not have ADHD.

My head is huge, I have so many problems trying to find a hat that actually fits.

people with adhd tend to have an index finger shorter than their ring finger. The ratio of the two also varies depending on which subtype!

My index finger is almost a half inch smaller then my ring finger


I just found another trait for ADHD.

It seems that many ADDers have an atypical brain lateralization.

it goes like this....

You can be left handed or right handed. The handedness does not matter. By the age of 7 Your brain is fully lateralized. If you are right brained, you are probably left handed you will likely be left eyed and favor your left foot, etc...

I'm right handed but I have left eye dominance.

My index finger is shorter than my ring finger (though only 2mm). Is that considered normal or is there not even a slight difference in length with most people?

Something is very strange about me though. I hold a pen with my left hand, a computer mouse with my right hand, a cigarette with my left, cell phone with my left, control a gearbox when driving with my right. I do all of these things bad with my other hand. Tools I can use with both hands. I'm right eyed and prefer my right foot. When I cut something I use the knife with my left hand, BUT when I eat with knife and fork I hold the fork in my left hand and knife in my right. I hold a spoon with my left hand. Plat guitar right-handed. So:

left: writing, holding a cigarette, computer mouse, holding just a knife or spoon, holding cell phone
right: holding both knife and fork, control gear box when driving, right eyed, right foot, sports, play guitar
both: tools

It seems that when I'm using only one of my hands, I'm left handed. When I use both hands however (driving car, music instrument, eating, etc) I'm right handed. Though not always (like holding a mouse).

I'm not really ambidextrous, so what am I? Is there a specific term for it? And does it relate to ADD?