I'm Inattentive ADD and was wondering if this is part of it or something else.

It's very hard to explain, but I'll try my best. I work in a technical field where lots of math is involved (I know, I should do something else, that's another topic) and there are calculations.

When someone is talking to me or I have to do one of these calcs, it is very difficult for me to visualize how to get to the next step, especially when conversions are involved. I have to ask people with less experience than me how they are getting their numbers because I can't. I don't see it, or get it, or understand exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.

And it can be things I've already done, not just new things. It's like I forget again after I do it. I have to write everything down so I can see how to do it later but that just makes me memorize it and not really understand.

It is so frustrating...other people talk about these things and they understand what they are saying. When I listen to them sometimes it may as well be a foreign language. I get so lost...and feel so stupid, especially when a more inexperienced person gets it and I don't.

That's just one example but it happens with other things, too.

Is this typical ADD? Does anyone else have this? Do you even understand what I'm trying to say? And if you take meds, does it help? I am on Adderall and it does not help this. Would another med be better?

Um. Hmm. Well I don't really consider myself a very visual or auditory person. I learn by doing (rote learning is evil). As such I do maths very intuitively and just naturally go to the next step without thinking too much about it.

Maybe you just need more exposure to various methods and problems? Practice makes perfect. Unless the task is boring and you have ADHD. But hopefully you don't find maths too boring.

And if you're anything like me, don't bother asking others to explain. Verbal instructions go straight over my head.

What you are describing is an attention problem and a memory problem. Both are associated with ADD. I didn't think I had a memory problem for years because I didn't lose things, like my keys, or miss appointments. But, if you learn something one minute, and then can't remember it the next - that's a memory problem. For example, I didn't believe that I had a reading problem either, because I read constantly and enjoy it, but I had to admit that I would often read sentences over and over and over and over... again because I couldn't remember what I had just read and how it fit into what had come before it.

As you have noticed, people without ADD don't suffer from a break in flow. Their concentration is even and consistent, and they can apply acquired knowledge as soon as they assimilate it. This difference will become shockingly apparent should you take medication.

I have troubles with he same thing. Math is extremely hard for me and always has been. I could NOT do word problems, even in basic elementary math because my brain couldn't follow.

I also tend to be a 'learn on my own' person. I can't follow instructions so I have to learn by trial and error.

People have always got frustrated with me as I can't really tell someone how to do something, or even explain myself very well. Its much easier for me just to do it. I also could not learn Algebra and had to take a non credited beginning algebra class twice in Jr. college.

I understand your frustration, you need to do stimulant medications and/or behavior therapy are appropriate and safe treatments for ADHD . ADHD must exhibit symptoms for a period of six months or longer that exceeds expectations for their age and intelligence. Symptoms of ADHD include symptoms such as excessive forgetfulness, failure to acknowledge those who speak to him due to constant distraction, failure to finish tasks, makes repeated careless errors, chronically loses items which are important, fails to follow through on directed tasks due to distraction, and failure to sustain enjoyable activities. Children also must exhibit an inability to sit still, to resist impulses, and can not control their desires, which often leads to serious behavioral outbursts. These symptoms must take place in more than one setting before diagnosis of ADHD is accurate.

Impulsivity Symptoms
(g) often blurts out answers before questions have been completed
(h) often has difficulty awaiting turn
(i) often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g. butts into conversations or games)
B. Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms that caused impairment were present before age 7 years.
C. Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (e.g. at school [or work] and at home).
D. There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.
E. The symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorder and are not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g. Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Dissociative Disorder, or a Personality Disorder)


To Change in medicine better consult doctor so that u intake right dosage

Hi Kat, I have the same thing. Especially when people are talking to me it is impossible to follow .. and that goes for classroom instruction as well. But also, read instructions like in study books.
I can usually master if though by doing it myself like all the others in this topic mention too.

We seem to have working memories that can only hold two or three words .. stuff in anything beyond that, and the earlier ones fall out.

images of a magazine clerk who absent-mindedly keeps on shoving boxes on the counter, happily unaware that the counter is full of boxes already and, on the other end, boxes are falling off just as fast as he keeps adding them

you need to do stimulant medications
but Kat mentioned that s/he's on Adderall .. :confused: ??