I'm having a tough time with getting used to this. My doc diagnosed me with inattentive ADD almost a month ago and has prescribed me ritalin. I remember when I was a child, my teacher would tell my parents that I had a hard time focusing in class and would always be daydreaming or looking out the window, not paying attention. Also, when she would try to get my attention, she would have to say my name a few times in order to get a response. Now, in college, I face some of the same issues. I am currently studying to become a dental hygienist. I'm just wondering, can ADD be something that a physician would just diagnose someone with in order to help with studying and attentiveness in class? I have noticed quite a lot of college students in these forums with ADD/ADHD, and the thought has crossed my mind quite a few times. Can anyone in their right minds find math or science or whatever class they are taking interesting enough to pay full attention to, or because they are having a hard time with the interest enough to stay focused, would these people be using meds and ADD/ADHD as an excuse to "make" them concentrate enough for the grade they desire? For me, this has crossed my mind, although school isn't the only daily task in my life that has become affected. I know that I have constantly forgotten the simplest things at work, and I have been a dental assistant for almost 13 years now! It has aggravated me for sure! Concentration, lethargy, stray thoughts are at the top of my list. I'm hoping that someone out here will be able to come up with a settling answer to my question of some people just using ADD/ADHD and meds as an excuse to "make" them better...when for some people, to not be able to concentrate on gum disease lectures are just plain normal because it's boring!

ADHD isn't just about not paying attention. You can't just slap on the diagnosis because you find a class boring, or loose your focus here and there. It has much wider implications on your life. Also, these symptoms had to have been in place for a very long time.

Take me for example; it wasn't just a matter of not being able to pay attention. I couldn't sustain my focus long enough for any new material to sink in. I would have to work three times as hard as my non ADHD friend to produce minimal results. And I've tried everything for years, I mean everything to overcome the symptoms of ADHD (when I didn't know they were symptoms).

I can't imagine how anyone would go out of their way to have a diagnosis of ADHD. And the diagnosis only makes the playing field level. It doesn't give me an advantage in the least. And I can't imagine that anyone would willingly sign up themselves up to work twice as hard for the same results, even with medical management.

Boring classes are boring classes. Having ADHD doesn't make that go away.

I would usually pay attention pretty well in class and even if I wasn't listening I at least looked as though I was. I'm sure part of that was my fear of failure and disappointing myself. I'm sure it's hard for anyone to pay attention to boring lectures, but I have troubles in many other areas of life as well. Once i'm in class i'm pretty good at taking notes and listening, but it's hard to even get to class or get there on time. Right now I should be writing a paper but I'll probably go to bed instead just because I really don't want to do it.

I have known people to buy meds from other students or dupe a doctor into prescribing them something just so they could study even more, and who didn't have ADD.

Sometimes it's hard to discern what is a product of ADD and what is just life for everyone. The checklists in some ADD books, like Delivered from Distraction, might help in pinpointing what is more an ADD trait than a side effect of being alive.

Can anyone in their right minds find math or science or whatever class they are taking interesting enough to pay full attention toYes. If they want to pass a course, graduate and get a job. I won't even mention the financial cost of post secondary education.

because they are having a hard time with the interest enough to stay focused, would these people be using meds and ADD/ADHD as an excuse to "make" them concentrate enough for the grade they desire?Medications used to treat ADHD/ADD do have some effect on non-ADHD/ADD people which may improve concentration and focus, but they have a much greater effect on people with ADHD/ADD.

Concentration, lethargy, stray thoughts are at the top of my list. I'm hoping that someone out here will be able to come up with a settling answer to my question of some people just using ADD/ADHD and meds as an excuse to "make" them better...The symptoms of ADHD/ADD have to have been present since childhood in order for a diagnosis to be made. Difficulty with concentration, lethargy and stray thoughts are also symptoms of other disorders - depression comes to mind.

Perhaps I am delusional about the benefit I seem to get from taking Ritalin and need to try some other medication so I can make my ADHD/ADD better. Ritalin doesn't make my ADHD/ADD go away. When it is in my system, I don't daydream and I don't have to almost kill myself to maintain focus through the workday, classes, meetings and social activities. Other drivers on the road would probably appreciate my improved focus when on meds, if they knew.

when for some people, to not be able to concentrate on gum disease lectures are just plain normal because it's boring!How badly do you need this course? I discovered I was a much better student at forty than I was at nineteen and I didn't even know about ADHD/ADD or medication then. Maturity really helped me suck it up and do the rote memory thing with topics I have no desire to revisit again in this lifetime. My marks were good even without meds.

You MIGHT have a.d.d. or something else might be mimicing it. I mean if you can't pay attention in class every single time your in class, that's a problem. Still forgetting things at work... the average person doesn't do that ( I think) . If little things like this bother you, then it's ok to kind of want to get checked out.
By the way half the physicians barely understand a.d.d, especially the inattentive type, so they are going to only diagnose you based on a few questions.

Another thing is, you barely realize half the a.d.d. things you do until someone points it out.If your teacher even noticed you day dreamed as a kid, then that's a big sign. I'm a daydreamer too. I didn't even notice I daydreamed so much until I really had friends that let me know I did. They didn't say it, but they would always try to wake me up or give me that stare like wtf are you doing. So honestly ask your friends, who witness you the most, if you do a lot of a.d.d like things.
Go to Dr Amen's site and take the a.d.d. self test. It's probably one of the best ways to diagnose a.d.d. Then get someone else to take the test for you to see if they notice things about you that you don't.

I want to focus on the part where you say "Can anyone in their right minds find math or science or whatever class they are taking interesting enough to pay full attention to, or because they are having a hard time with the interest enough to stay focused, would these people be using meds and ADD/ADHD as an excuse to "make" them concentrate enough for the grade they desire?"

I think that in people with ADHD/ADD in general it is hard for them to stay "Interested" in anyone thing. This is why we fin ourselves more so then not, saying "I can't do this, or I don't want to try this". If the interest level is not there, then yes I would have to say that the focus will not be there. again everyone is different, but if you put yourself in my shoes, this hurts me in many ways. When I actually put my mind into something I can do anything, from building decks to making cloths. My biggest problem is I become interested then I lose interest, which causes me to abandon the project. I have learned on my own to cope with the many symptoms tha ADHD presents to me. It has helped become a stronger person. One should keep in mind that if they choose the path to "do it" on their own. It will be a long and uphill battle, but there is nothing more satisfying to me, then to be able to look in the mirror and say, you know why I am who I am and I am proud of it. self accomplishment is more rewarding then anything I have ever done.

In a final note, it is also important to know, that the learning is for the rest of your life. You will have to live with it the rest of your life, and you in turn will need to learn how to handle it. With me, yeah people at work notice that I am more hyper or energetic then the average person, and so sometimes I am not taken seriously, and I know people laugh behind the scenes. To them I say Great! If you are laughing then you are happy. But It does not bother me because they don't know me, and they are only passing judgment as I expect most of if not all of society to do. This too is something you have to deal with. I am in no way ashamed of who I am, and in fact I 'm happy that I have ADD/ADHD, because it makes life more interesting to me.

Bottom line, you have to focus on yourself, and know yourself. Be happy with yourself, and work twice as hard to accomplish it, but if you think of the rewards and the benefits it will provide you, you will be more likly to stay focused.