I can read but either I do not understand it or does not stay in the brain especially if it is a long paragraph.....I hate feeling like a retard. I always have to have things explained to me by someone. Even when people talk to me one on one I sometimes I don't get what they are saying....and wondering does that have to do with ADHD or Bipolar and what I can do to help it? GAWD I hate this! Even with Medication it is still hard...I dunno what to do.
:nono:

I relate, Somehow or another I read a lot of books. But they are what I can get into at the moment. I think it depends what channel I am on. Much of the time I can't focus on what I am reading!

Read comprehension really makes for a bad subject for job interview too....imagine surprise when they find out later that you have no comprehension skills..I dunno If I can make it out there in the real world. That really bothers me.

I have had the same problem and my memory is so bad. I asked my neurologist about the memory problem and he said it is basically because we are not paying attention. He said that alot of times that your ADHD meds will help your memory problem. But I can't tell if that is true or not.

I find I have problems remembering conversations within just minutes of what is said. I know one way I have worked around it is to make sure that I have direct eye contact with the person that I am speaking with, and if I am not sure of the directions, I repeat them back. But it is not always a fool proof tool.

As far as reading, I am having trouble reading the longer posts on the forums. For some reason it is hard for me to read looking directly at a computer screen. So I find that if I take it and copy it to a word document, print it then I can read it better. Don't ask me why it helps, but it does.


But by no means Mel are you a "retard" or dumb or stupid or any of those words. You are a very intelligent and intuitive person and gifted in your own way. :p

Melly,

You ain't a retard. I suffer from the same thing. If I ain't, you ain't...

My sis is on Adderol. She says that it's helped her memory quite a bit.

Hang in there. Things will get better.

Take care,

Legion

mel

But by no means Mel are you a "retard" or dumb or stupid or any of those words. You are a very intelligent and intuitive person and gifted in your own way.

Mel I had a very good job payiny me over 20.00 an hour and I quit to go drive a truck

I also had problems with comprehension of written instructions and my coping statigy was to change to a job situation that didnt require a lot of reading comprehension.

I think it was simply becuse it was to boring to bother putting in the effort required to comprehend it.

Driving truck pays me well and my scenery is allways changing so it satisfys my thrirst for a contully changing envionment

bottom line to what I am saying is "Find something you enjoy doing and dont try to do things that are hard to understand"

I could do the job (Quality Control) but I couldnt be bothered with the stupid details that the job deswcription said was needed

short term memory is helped for me by eye contact and tasking the time to "COMMIT TO MEMORY" what I want to remeber

the book "You Mean I'm Not Stupid, Lazy or Crazy by peggy romono and Kate Kelly has an excellent chapter on Short term memory that really helped me

* sniff sniff* Thanks Bunny, I do try my best to keep eye contact but for some reason my eyes wander to other things around me...argh that is hard to control.

I hope so legion, and thanks. Though this does make for an intersting topic at my disablity hearing...heh! Even with meds it's hard to understand.

Melly DEAR..... what has I told you about calling yourself names???
STOP DAT!

Love ya!
See you soon.

Vickie

It's not me calling me that....it's said on the faces of ppl who look at me funny and some even have the nerve to say it out right.

i have long ago given up trying to justify my horrid short-term memory -- my husband is astonished that i cannot remember what i said two minutes ago; yet i can remember stuff that happened 2 years ago, minor though it may have been. paying attention helps with memory. writing it down, helps. not being tired (which can cause even more distractedness) helps.

i think you could borrow from marriage counseling -- tell people to talk to you in short sentences, and then paraphrase it back to them (i.e. "so what you're saying is...."). maybe that would help. at least with family and friends aware of the brain difference (we are not impaired, we merely process differently).

I have learned a long time ago not to worry too much about what others think of me.
I love ya mel, just as you are.

Vick

Perhaps you could have dyslexia and Central Auditory Processing Disorder or "Ear Dyslexia". That can distort the things you see and hear and can cause problems in comprehesion.

Um then I think I do need to be tested for that too, I wonder if my shrink could test me on that.

I can't remember the last time I read a novel or any other fiction book for that matter. Not only was the comprenshion hard in the past I had a lot anxiety when it came to reading. The thought of having to read a book from cover to cover gave me panic attack.

I don't mind reading non-fiction because I can skip around. It's ok if I start with the last chapter a then go to the 1st.

Mel you are NOT stupid. You process information differently than the average person. I have problem processing information auditorily too. It get worse when I am nervous and my anxiety make it worse.

Most shrinks should be able to test for it with a psycho Ed eval. You might also look into making an appointment with Vocation Rehab too.

The funny thing is that I always scored high on standardized reading tests when I was in school.
1. They were in small chuncks.
2. I didn't care about the tests and had no anxiety
3. I read the questions before I read the selections.

I have a lot of trouble comprehending long post's especially if there is no break in the sentences.

I have to have paragraph's or I get lost and the word's start to sound more and more like blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.

Ya know what I mean?

I know exactly what ya mean!

Some where in the bowls of the ADDforums archives there is a thread about how we should try to make our posts short and sweet and to the point and do them in point form as we as ADDers have problems reading long posts.

I have no idea which thread it was but maybe someone can remember it and pull it back up

so girls you are not alone when it comes to comprehending long posts

It's not just long post for me...it's forms, or even sometimes Instant messages, or email with short paragraphs but it's bunched up together, and people talking to me one on one. So sometimes when I have Mom explain things I do repeat it...sometiems I have to say I get it when I still don't, don't want to annoy the mother of all mothers.

It's in the forum guidlines

Sometime I have to read paragraphs a several times before the meaning sinks in.

There is nothing wrong with asking people to repeat the question or the clarify the meaning of what was said. On interviews and similar conversations asking questions can help us more than hurt us.

Yeppers, one of the guilty long winded writers steps up.


I can't always tell when I am paying attention to conversations as I think people give me a lot of slack! And don't say anything.

Reading stuff that has to do with computers/electronics/ math/ how to play an instument, forget it! I can only do it when there is no way around it, just takes a lot of agonizing. Chewing two words at a time. I will say them out loud, that helps. Sometimes I can't think of what a simple word is, I can read it, but can't remember.

One day for hours I couldn't remember what a peach was, for anything, My family, just looked at me strange. But wouldn't tell me. Guess they thought I just wanted attention?

Only when it has a story line that brings in feelings and or/ personal character development is it easier to pay attention some say it's a female thing. Is it???

I am glad that my supervisor is understanding of my ADHD. Well, my boss is a different story. But I can receive an email for directions and have no idea about what he is talking about. I think it in the beginning it bothered him when I had to go down and ask him what it was about. But he understands now And I actually try very hard to understand the email before I ask him.

Sometimes, I just think that if things were written for "my brain" it would not be a problem. But of course, I know that the world does not evolve around me and that will not happen. But just the idea of having something written in my language or the way I speak and think would be so much easier.

In my history class for American History befor 1877, one student had trouble understanding the text, so she had to read the text and take notes so that she could understand it in her own words.

I also know a girl who is OCD and can't read a book. She has to actually write the book in order to read it.

Um janine I don't think it is a female thing..I think men can be the same way.

I think most of the problem is that the words are so bunched up together and use such technical terms that english turns into greek.

Mel No, I meant some people think the interest in feelings, is more female.Like that men stereotypically enjoy more action oriented movies, while stereotypically woman would want more characrer development to relate to. I like action movies only when the plot is good and there is a lot of character development.

Am I making sense?? Or am I off topic, my brain doesn't want to figure that out right now..

mel, earlier you said you don't know if you can make it in the real world...

You ARE in the real world! don't forget that. I sometimes feel the same way (how can everybody else do it so easily?! especially when I overhear people talking the amount of classes they are taking or how much they are involved in...) but I try to remember that those superhuman people aren't struggling with the issues that we have.

I am quite sure that most people would crumple if htey had to walk a mile in your shoes. (I honestly don't think most people would MAKE it to a mile!!)

btw I often read posts backwards, or start in the middle and skip around... not becuse I CAN read backwards... just because some word in the middle stands out and I'm curious to see why it's there!! For example in Fut's post where she wrote 'blah blah blah blah' I just COULDN'T resist reading the blah blah blah part first!! I couldn't do it!! I read almost all my textbooks this way too, and let me tell you - it's not very efficient becuase you just have to read it over agian to get the context anyway!

I don't have the severe reading difficulties that you guys are talking about, but I still do often have to write things out in order to understand. And it definately goes for listening as well.

a few weeks ago I was asking the GSI for help in the tutoring room, and a lot of my classmates where there too... well somthing he was explaining wasn't clicking (it was the words really, not the concept) and so he started going R-E-A-L-L-Y slow, and after everything he said he asked me "are you sure?" "are you SURE?" "can you repeat it back to me?" "show me what ___ is on the graph."

Well, the stuff he was asking/showing me was all very trivial, and things that I had learned in intro math classes. And yet, the way he was saying it just made me so anxious that I completely broke down and didnt' get it at all. I started CRYING right there in the help room!! with my peers at the table!! Yeah... that made me feel pretty dumb and helpless. but at the same time I don't really care that much anymore =)

I think that dealing with difficulties such as these adds alot of depth to our personalities. that always makes me happy to think about ;)

(sorry for the long post!! lol)

Y'know, it's interesting... I tend to be quite verbose at times, but I also tend to keep my paragraphs rather short. I just write a lot of really short paragraphs. Go figure.

And Christiana, I'm sort of similar when it comes to learning new things. If I see it in writing, I'm absolutely fine; if I actually write it out, even if I never look at the notes again, I understand it even better. But if someone tries to explain it to me out loud, they could just as well be speaking Martian...

I have trouble hearing understanding lectures unless I find them emotionally engaging.

whoops! I posted this in the wrong spot... sorry!! (ignore this post)

I am guilty of writing long posts.. (sometimes) ... but sometimes I keep things short as I know it's hard for ADDer's to comprehend long posts. My shortest post was one word! :P

Janine...maybe I had trouble understanding what you meant...heh visual aid about what I mean about not being able to understand words. Another visual aid....Codeman...what is verbose?

Christina I would laugh to see the superhumans try to walk in our shoes....compared to the way we survive everyday,...who is the real superhuman....Hmmmm(something to chew on)

Thanks, Mary, for keeping it short:p Loves ya!

Verbose = wordy. Case in point. ;)

(And ironically enough, this post ended up being really short...heh!)

LOL and I thank you ;)

Mel,

I really understand what you are talking about. I am the same way when it comes to conversations. It is very frustrating! I have learned to classify conversations in two ways: casual conversation and processing conversations.
This has helped me. Let me explain what I mean. If I am having a casual conversation, who cares what I remember and what I don't? I just let me mind wonder because in the end who cares! If it is a processing conversation and the information being presented to me is important and needed I either write it down or I tell the other person that if they really want me to act on it at all they had better write it down and give it to me so I can reference it later, otherwise they can go ahead deal with the fact now that I am not going to do it.

If comprehension is the problem then just tell the person that they need to explain it in a different way because they are not communcating very effectively. Remember that is takes at least 2 people to communicate and if communication isn't happening it is both of thier faults! not just one or the others.

Also keep in mind that just because you think differently than others does not mean you are less intelligent. Albert Einstein was one of the most intelligent men to walk this earth, but if you tried to explain basic algebra to him he could not comprehend it. That is why eventually he simply created his own system of mathematics. Moral of the story: Inteligence is relative.

MM

Mel, I would also recommend that you look into some type of meditation. Listening and comprehending are a matter of focus. If you can learn to focus more through meditation it will help you in conversations, reading, etc. I have been trying it for about a year now and it has helped me a lot.

Hope this helps.

MM

What type of Meditation helps...i have heard of so many kinds and not quite sure I even know how to do that. Yikes I am sheltered

I agree their are a lot of types out there and it can be a little overwhelming. My suggestion is to pickup a book that is about meditation in general (I will try to give you some titles at a later point). I personally like some Buddhist forms of meditation.

If you are a christian, then try finding some information on Lectio Divina, Eastern Orthodox meditation, Celtic Mysticism, or practices of the 'desert fathers'. Christianity has a good background in meditation, but it is not prevelant today.
Their is no reason you could not do some Buddhist meditation as well, but some Christians feel uncomfortable with this. It is purely a personal decision. You can also look on the internet for information. Personally, I like Zen/Chan meditations because they are specifically designed for increasing focus and attention.

Also in the 'Spirituality' section of this forum, I will post a listing of books that are good for beginners in meditation.

MM

I do have a CD and I have no Idea where the book is..but it is Meditation for beginers....dude put me to sleep :nono:

Yeah...I don't know if this is related or not, but I have trouble understanding anything that is not explained in explicit detail. I'm terrible at filling in the blanks. I hate it when authors use symbolism and metaphors. I tend to take things literally also. I hate it when people don't say what they mean.

LIL...Heh you are not alone...I hate having to read between the lines.

I've heard the Melly,
(who is a truly wonderful person)
hates to read between the lines. :wacko:

You are most certainly not alone on this one, though it probably feels it when the memory lets you down.
I have been this way for as long as I can remember(49yrs), and I have slowly learned to live with it. I agree, the worst is when you are called on it by someone else.
Remember though, you have skills that more then make up for this. If you don't know them yet, keep searching. They are there....

john

Thanks Wheezie...I did not mean those those lines hehe, but you are a sweetie.

The Most that I have going for me John is that I love to write Poetry and i have a quick wit somtimes..:D but that I can live with when I tell someone off. Thanks alot

Well, sorry, but I have not read every post in this thread w/o posting. I have a very hard time with reading comprehension. I have to read a paragraph, page, whatever a few times before it creeps into my subconscious. I have read a book and forgotten who the character was that is now in the story. I had to go back. When I read academically, forget it. I try to follow along and I have to re-read a ton. I have a horrible time in one of my classes because the prof won't give out copies of her lecture so she expects everyone to write things down and listen to what she has to say at the same time--not happening.

As far as the detail thing? I need as much detail as can be provided. I have been told many times how to fix something on my car. If I don't have step by step instructions with pics forget it.

So based on the original question/post--Melly you are "normal" (ADHD-wise).

I am hoping that when I get to the MD, he/she can/will prescribe something to help out.

Is your Professor NUTZZZZ????????? I hope she doesn't talk to fast!!!!!!!

Originally posted by Energizer_Bunny
Sometimes, I just think that if things were written for "my brain" it would not be a problem. But of course, I know that the world does not evolve around me and that will not happen. But just the idea of having something written in my language or the way I speak and think would be so much easier.

I understand this completely. I've noticed the same thing; certain writers tend to write in a style that I can instantly comprehend, whereas others I have to 'filter' before I can make much sense of what they've written.

Of course, I'm the same way with people speaking to me; some people can speak near-incoherently and I'll understand exactly what they're talking about, while others will explain things in explicit detail and all I hear is 'blah, blah, blah'.

And on top of that, the writing and speaking styles I tend to understand best usually belong to my fellow neuro-atypicals. Go figure! :D

I think if it is something we can not relate to it could be reason we don't understand as much

There is also something called Irlens Syndrome that causes people to not see the words properly... using a piece of colored plastic is said to help that. I have a web-site if anyone is interested you can IM/PM me... because I don't want to list the url and possibly get in trouble.

People with Irlen Syndrome are often seen as underachievers or having behavioral, attitude or motivational problems. These problems can also coexist with other learning problems, such as attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, or autism. Treatment for Irlen Syndrome can alleviate many of the symptoms of these disorders in many cases.


http://www.readingandwriting.ab.ca/judypool/lowcon.htm#cause

Thanks Mary Hugssssssss Will look at it.

Don't berate yourself!:).I myself love to read, and write, however, give me a factual test on what I've read, and I'll flunk(unless I've read it more than once. Here are some tips for yourself and any others with reading issues.




1. skims
2. skip around by reading the beginning of a few section or chapter(works mostly for nonfiction things and ideal for academic things)
3. take notes as you read.


and...apprecitate your skills:)

Thanks D. will keep that in mind :)

#1 there is nothing inherently natural in the act of reading or writing. This is a strictly "invented behavior" and there is no big suprise in the fact that some humans are not well equiped for it any more than I am well equiped for any number of things like living at extreme high altitudes like tibetans do.

#2 there are a number of learning disabilities that often go hand in hand with ADD. These directly affect perception and the way the brain handles information. If you have not been screened properly for them (and I don't know one way or the other so forgive my ignorance if I am rehashing what you already know) they often go unaddressed. It can be as simple as treating the ADD and having to RE-LEARN certain skill sets in the manner that allows your brain to process the information properly. The fact that it works differently does not make you stupid or defective. It makes you different. I resent the hell out of these being labled disabilities. ANY and I do mean ANY population geneticist would be taken aback by the labels stuck on so many of these conditions. By definition if it occurs in two percent or more of a population then it has been propogating, which means it has to have some adaptive value, which means it ISN'T a disorder. Society hasn't been around that long, and for all we know won't be around that long, it is inflexible and unforgiving. Who the hell are they to slap a lable like that on something older than they are? Especially when they are the unbending inflexible ones? Just another brand of biggotry a little more subtle than the run of the mill if you ask me.

Anyway Mel, Occupational therapy for particular learning differences can do a lot to UN-LEARN unproductive habbits you picked up trying to do things in the manner other students were in school. They can also find out specifically how your brain processes information and teach you alternative skill sets that will work. It's a bit like your brain was meant to run a MAC operating system and society has been trying to make it run on Microsoft XP. You just need to tell society to cram it and go find yourself a good copy of the MAC OS.

LARGE POST MAN!!!!!! Jk

I am worried that It may be a form of dyslexia like LilthingsADDup said...but I need to find out if I am to fix it....O.T. is that expensive or am I having an ADD moment of understanding....as in another visual AID!

It doesn't have to be Mel. As a matter of fact, it may well be covered under health insurance. You can also check with State, and federal agencies. Under the Clinton administration the IDEA legistlation was passed. The main gist of it was that "No student shall be left behind". Well Mel, that includes you. There were a great many programs put inplace to ensure that individuals with disabilities like ADD, and learning dis-abilities could get at least as much eductation as anyone else. At as high a quality as anyone else. There are more college graduates with learning disabilities because of this program than ever before. I'm not a democrat, but I give Bill Clinton due credit. It was a great program. The Republicans have been doing their level best to cut it to ribbons though. It is still, more or less, intact though. Though educational funding cuts in general have caused public schools to actually push for ADD diagnosis at the slightest indication (bad practice) because it gets them more federal funding.

Point is dear lady, you may be elidgable for government funded, or government assisted occupational therapy. You can research it on the net. If you like I can do some poking around for you.

Mel,

You're funny, your very nice, your poetry is great. Information is getting in there and you are obviously quite intelligent. You are probably just wired a little differently on your information inputs is all. It's pretty clear, like I said, that it's getting in there. You just have to identify how. Figure out what it is that is unique about how your brain processes inputs compared to the general population and you can tailor education, training, ect. to your personal learning style.

It was very painful for me to have people refer to me as being something I am not. Lazy, stupid, idoitic, retarded, and all sorts of other nice stuff, just because my brain works differently. I was lucky. I grew. I grew a lot. It was a little easier to deal with when I got so big they were reduced to whispering behind my back. I was also lucky in that my ADD was accompanied by things other than learning disabilities (I still resent that word). For me it was anxiety disorders, and depression. Panic attacks, OCD, and basically having my life almost come apart over that.

People always judge what they don't understand, and think they do Mel. You know better though. I know better and, for that matter, everyone here knows better. What kind of person can do that to another and feel good about themselves? No one we would want to know, and certainly no one who's opinion matters to civilized decent folk. Maybe they need to go back to grade school where that sort of behavior is the norm.

Anyway Mel, For what its worth, we all like you just fine, and none of us thinks anything bad about you.

The laziness label has been painful for me too. :(

Reading posts from ADDers who tend to ramble on and on is a challenge to anyone.... much less an ADDer themselves.

One area that I have somewhat overcome over time is my writing skills. My job (sales) has made me more concise over the years... Short, sweet, to the point (Hopefully=).

One can always come back and say more if more information is required.

KISS does work

Rambling Bull E-boy....Yes I would like links for help I not sure where to look.

Hi Melanie:

I am in the same boat with you and feel the same way some days. We are ok but it is those who can be ignorant. I choose to be who I want to be whether they think I am crazy lazy and stupid. I have a new audience which is the kids I teach swimming each day and they alleviate me from worrying what others think.

Galexica

Heh, I seem to make the kiddies laugh with my hyperness an being silly, I wish I could live by the example of janis Joplin and live my life the way I want and not care what people think..most of the time I don't but I can't say it doesn't irritate me dealing with such holier than though attiudes.

Originally posted by Scatter
Reading posts from ADDers who tend to ramble on and on is a challenge to anyone.... much less an ADDer themselves.

One area that I have somewhat overcome over time is my writing skills. My job (sales) has made me more concise over the years... Short, sweet, to the point (Hopefully=).

One can always come back and say more if more information is required.

KISS does work

Scatter,

As an ADDer too, you of all people should know, I have about as much control of my rambling as you do of your lack of tact.

Looks like I can occasionally control the rambling thing though. Maybe there is hope for your manners as well? ;-)

Mel,


http://www.chadd.org has some very good links as does http://www.nadda.org and http://www.nami.org

You'll want to check their information pages. They also have sections regarding how the Americans with Disabilities act applies to persons with ADD and some of the conditions that can be co-morbid with it. There are links that address the IDEA legislation as well and each of these links has further links. It's a really good place to start.

Mel-you and galexica both hit on something I wonder if you've ever tried. Have you ever taught at a preschool or day care center? I just get this strong feeling like that is something you would be marvelous at. I don't think there is too much heavy reading involved. And kids are very accepting of everyone. What do you think?

Originally posted by E-boy


Scatter,

As an ADDer too, you of all people should know, I have about as much control of my rambling as you do of your lack of tact.

Looks like I can occasionally control the rambling thing though. Maybe there is hope for your manners as well? ;-)

What was rude about his post?

What he said was true. You do have control on how long your posts are. Unlike spoken conversation, you can edit and delete your posts if it is too long winded.

Did you see the little winkie face at the end?

Also, what difference does it make if you are talking or writing if you have a huge amount of ideas on one topic you are trying to communicate? I would think "Too long winded" is a purely subjective rather than objective evaluation which is why a statement that completely ignores the possibility that there may have been some value to someone in the extra verbiage is, in fact, rather tactless. Which is not the same as being intentionally rude.

The individual could have said, "Wow E-boy! Could you have said that in Swahili too!" and made a joke out of the same sentiment, or "Could you sum up the highlights for those of us who's ADD makes following rambles difficult, E-boy?" Gentle reminders with a modicum of diplomacy, and tact. They neither devalue anything I wrote, nor people who would prefer not to deal with the ramble. Win/win, if you will.

In anycase, it was a joke at my own expense as much as at Scatter's. I used to be a lot more sensitive about this sort of thing. Now I just have to keep reminding myself that not everyone is on the same channel, not even other ADDers. :-)

Originally posted by melanie_cartner
I can read but either I do not understand it or does not stay in the brain especially if it is a long paragraph.....I hate feeling like a retard. I always have to have things explained to me by someone. Even when people talk to me one on one I sometimes I don't get what they are saying....and wondering does that have to do with ADHD or Bipolar and what I can do to help it? GAWD I hate this! Even with Medication it is still hard...I dunno what to do.
:nono:

I did my adhd-tests last year when I got my dx. One of the tests was explained by my doc orally! I didn't understand a word. When se got to the end I had already forgot what I was supposed to start with. I think she read it to me twice and then I got the paper so I could read it myself. I had to read it three or four times before I had made up a "plan"... and I had planned like a fool, but I managed to get through the test anyways.

Also when she told me simple math-problems and I couldn't see the paper she had to read it several times before I remembered it, I did have some problems when there were more then 3 numbers or if it was more than one addition or division etc.

If I try to listen to one person and someone else is talking nearby it sounds like french to me. Don't understand at all. It has to be almost quiet.

In other words, you're "normal adhd" as someone here wrote :)

:) Thanks piupau...I get paranoid sometimes that it is more....took them 16 years to figure out I was adhd, bipolar and ptsd...I wonder what other demons is lurking in my head that maybe they have not found(they in mean shrinks)

Flakey, as much as I love to entertain children..just as soon as children start acting up and being bad...:uhh: I get too nervous cause i have no idea how to handle it...one of the many nonjoys of not being a parent and not being around kids alot...and i don't want to be mean to the kids but then again I don't want them to walk all over me.

I love kids. But I think it's because I am like a kid. I don't think I'll ever grow up ;)

Originally posted by Piupau
I did my adhd-tests last year when I got my dx. One of the tests was explained by my doc orally! I didn't understand a word. When se got to the end I had already forgot what I was supposed to start with. I think she read it to me twice and then I got the paper so I could read it myself. [...]

Also when she told me simple math-problems and I couldn't see the paper she had to read it several times before I remembered it, I did have some problems when there were more then 3 numbers or if it was more than one addition or division etc.

If I try to listen to one person and someone else is talking nearby it sounds like french to me. Don't understand at all. It has to be almost quiet.

Oh, I understand this completely. I have major issues trying to process spoken language, I've found; if I see something in writing, I don't have so much of a problem, but if you try saying something to me, it might as well be in a foreign language, especially when I'm feeling tired or stressed.

Oh don't get me wrong I am a big kid too and I do love kids...just don't leave me in charge of them...at least not until I am used to em.

Ususally if a person is talking to me and I don't understand...I love it when a snobby person looks at me and says, "What the matta you can't understand english?"

I just simply smile and say, "Oh, no I am sorry, I can not speak Butthead!"

*lol* that was a good one Melanie! ;)

I know exactly what you mean mel. I am more so with listening and it just sounding like jiberish. Reading I am fairly good with comrehension Only because I made myself and it was a long hard frustrating process and I still have to keep it up or I just end up not getting it.
I am bad at listening exspcially when given instructions at work if I haven't done it I can't learn just by listening. But you are definately not a retard i've read some of your post and consider you quite articulate. Just keep your chin up and have confidance cuz we are all here for you.

Wlfbear, Dig the sig. The version I heard in electronics school was "Peace love and tye dyed granola bars!" ;-)

The southerners in my class liked to use it to bait the hippy wannebes on haight/ashberry especially around Earth day. Another favorite trick of theirs was to go into health food stores, and other "New agey" as they referred to them places and make a small purchase and demand plastic bags. I was never one for messing with people, even the ones I felt were paying top dollar to look poor and dirty. My one contribution to their fun was to point out that plastic bags are, technically, more environmentally friendly than paper because paper in a landfill does not biodegrade much more easily than plastic, and manufacturing paperbags actually produces frighteningly more pollution than manufacturing plastic ones does. Properly segregated and disposed of plastic is down right friendly. Except for those pesky outleaching estrogen mimicking compounds! EEEEK! Of course, with paper there's the acids... Pick yer poison.

Speaking of bleeding heart liberals I learned a horrible fact about PETA yesterday. Now I am an animal lover, truly, but I have never liked PETA. They are very extreme. Some of their stances make perfect sense and then they turn around and endorse something so ridiculously idiotic as to make even their good points look stupid. TOTALLY COUNTER PRODUCTIVE. Anyway, I found out that of all of the nearly three thousand animals they "Resue" each year from being killed "needlessly", they euthenize over two thirds of them. So, they rescue these animals from certain death to kill them... One can make the point that they are sparing them from suffering, but many of them weren't suffering to begin with as experimental protocalls do try to limit needless suffering. So an animal that might have died to provide data that saved a child's life, now died for nothing...

I find animal experimentation difficult. Lines need to be drawn that are not presently there. Apes should not be experimented on, period. Any animal that tests for intelligence within the range of a human child should qualify for the same protections we give human children. That would cover many of the other primates as well. One cannot define animals as "Other". We are animals too. So, where to draw the line. I say intelligence and self awareness has to be a main factor and primates and some cetaceans certainly have that to a degree.

Damn! Another ramble. GRRR. I really dislike PETA. Green peace at least provides entertainment when we get to hose them down from the ships. ;-) (We aren't allowed to hose the people anymore. One of them was fool enough to get into a zodiac at sea in heavy seas with a life vest that didn't fit when he didn't know how to swim, and then try to board a United States Navy vessel. When they hosed him down, he went over the side, his vest popped off, because it didn't fit, and hadn't been inspected properly, and he drowned because he couldn't swim. Green Peace violated safe ship rules of the road, safety regs, provide their people with crap safety gear, and put them in harms way in a small rigid hulled inflatable boat in heavy seas in the wake of a destroyer against every coast guard advisory out there and the U.S. Navy still got the black eye in every paper in the nation. For trying to protect multi-million dollar tax payer property from yahoos without hurting them.

Okay no more rambling. I don't like green peace either. I get a warm fuzzy watching old videos of "swimming lessons" though.

I am pro-science and pro-environment though. I'm just not a yahoo.

I got it off of John lequzamo's (not sure if I spelled his name right)HBO special it just caught my attention and it was so out there. I mean come on chicken grease LMBO. The only thing I like about PETA is that when the circus come I get get to go see a Naked woman in a cage It is so freaking funny.

Speaking of I cant understand....WHAT??????????????

We were talking about his quote "Peace love and chicken grease"

I compared it with "Peace love and tye dyed granola bars" which led to a ramble about hippy wannabes, which in turn led to discussing PETA. And naturally if PETA get's brought up you have to talk about the circus and naked ladies in cages. It all makes perfect sense, you see? ;-)

Although if I was naked in a cage pretending to be a circus animal, I'd have to put some gloves on so I could throw real authentic monkey poop at the gawkers. :-)

Ahhh Ok and thanks for the monkey poop visual....eeeeewwww~!

Well, I had to give you something less gross than a nekkid E-boy to think about. Monkey poop fit the bill.

Ummmmm Ok I'll go with that:p

Snicker

:p yousa so silly :D No wonder why u is cool ppl;)

Me? Nah! You? Yeah You are cool people. I'm just kind of a general pain in the keister.

I have been a poor reader most of my life, too. Especially in school and on the job when I had to read things that were boring. Now, though, I read a book or two a week (that aren't all pictures), because I read what I want. I don't retain it all, but am getting better. If reading something that is required for work, I have found that if I take breaks every once in a while, I retain more.

JD, another good trick is to read before bed, and also even when you are on a roll take those frequent breaks. Even non-ADDers need ten minutes or so out of every hour to "set" new information from short term memory to long term memory so they don't lose it. Reading before bed also helps, though I can't remember why.

A trick I learned in electronics school was to write out key points as notes. Something about both reading and writing something really helped a lot. I think it had to do with the fact that it actually gets processed through different areas of your brain and so you have two different retrieval methods available this way to re-enforce the memory. I know folks who do the same thing with tape recorders too, as well as notes so they get three different memory retrieval methods available to their brains.

Originally posted by E-boy
Me? Nah! You? Yeah You are cool people. I'm just kind of a general pain in the keister.

Since only knowing you personaly through the forums, I am going to go out on a limb and take your word for it:p

I took Electronics at ITT Tech and if I did not write out the key notes I Highlighted them...or look at chapter questions and just go back and find the answer...that is how I got through all Reading Comprehension Courses..not actaully reading first...just going back and looking for familiar words. There is always some sort of loop hole somewhere;)

Originally posted by E-boy

A trick I learned in electronics school was to write out key points as notes. Something about both reading and writing something really helped a lot. I think it had to do with the fact that it actually gets processed through different areas of your brain and so you have two different retrieval methods available this way to re-enforce the memory. I know folks who do the same thing with tape recorders too, as well as notes so they get three different memory retrieval methods available to their brains.

I think you are correct. And taking it a step further, my work can be quite hands on. I will hear or read something and remember it if I can DO it. It also helps me to teach other people what I know to bring about recalling the information that I have.

If it is step by step instructions I used to read and do what it says all at the same time...and do More until I get the hang of it...sometimes it works and sometimes if I have not done it in a long time.....I tend to forget everything on what to do. Its a never ending battle with my brain!

Just a suggestion,

I found 2 free software products that tend to help me:
RapidReader which is like watching tv, the words appear in the middle of the screen, one at a time at a pace you set (It increased my reading speed), worth checking out.
EasyWord: which reads back to you what you wrote (helps me to read with EW reading to me)

:) Thank You tryn,

I will definetly check that out!

Reading is a pain in the *** for me too! I get letters from the sentence below the one I am reading, mixed in with the words. Sometimes I just see the wrong word. I mistake may for maybe or many, all the time. I also seem to forget what I read as soon as I read it. If I can't skip around in a book, then there is absolutely no way I can read it.

I have a horrible short term memory problem too, so you aren't alone. Someone can say something to me, and it just doesn't register. I've tried eye contact, watching a person's lips move...I hear that they are talking, I just don't seem to listen. It's hard to explain, but I think you understand.

I mentioned it to my psychiatrist, and she said depression can impair short term memory. *shrug* I don't know what to think anymore. I'm one wave short of a shipwreck.

Cyndi

I know exactly what ya mean..:D GMTA!

Sometimes, just the size of a book or article give me trouble. In another forum, I was reading through the postings on a very interesting topic. I got to a long post and after reading it four times, I just quit that topic and went to a different forum. The more I looked at that post, the less I understood. That was 5 minutes ago and I don't remember the topic. I would forget who started this thread if I couldn't peek.

What you say about reading is one of my classic symptoms. Lack of interest do the inability to recall, or remember. It gets so frustrating. I can read but if you asked be to tell you about what I read I could sumin it up in less than a minute.
I'm am taking 20mgs of Adderal XR. Can I anticipate any improvement?

Yes, Adderall did give me the patience to sit and read and believe it or not...I still remember somethings I read in colledge and from the computer books when I have a problem on this computer I sit and read calmy and somethings I can retain from it...It's like the meds kinda helps me open my mind a little more but off medication I shuts a little more each day. Still other things I can not understand at all....I think it depends on interest and experience and wanting to learn.

Melanie, I understand, I also feel like a not so bright bulb. I can be talking to a person one on one and blank out for a sec or my mind goes wandering and I have to play catch up on the conversation and feel like, can we start this conversation over?
And, reading comprehension is a chore also. What has helped me is to think that when I am reading a fictional book( not that I have read a ton ) is to think of it as a movie, or for what it is,entertainment , and so what if I cant remember all the details!

[QUOTE=What has helped me is to think that when I am reading a fictional book( not that I have read a ton ) is to think of it as a movie, or for what it is,entertainment , and so what if I cant remember all the details![/QUOTE]

Funny reading things like Stephen King and Anne rice it works that way for me too. As for the rest well.....SSI hearing in 5 days sooo Pray for me LOL

Oh geez,
Been there done that;) Comprehending instructions that I was given at work*especially a new job* is so hard for me. I've had people look at me almost like "is this the same person who handed me the resume I was so interested in"sigh. My job performance usually seems to suck between the Add & SAD. And the anxiety I experience is another problem when Im trying to comprehend material. Guess that's why I am better being at home, bcause I can take my time & learn & comprehend the way that is most comfortable to me.

I did notice that my short term improved when I started Ritalin. Simple things like remembering food orders or making quick decisions about what I want to buy has become easier on meds. Im amazed how much this has changed for me. Even my hubby says the same thing.

As for Algebra & higher math I truely suck at that. Years back I was accussed of being lazy ect. I think I only had one instructor that really tried to help me look at me once as if to say "You really don't comprehend & retain this properly do you?" It was a huge relief to find that one of my teachers finally understood everything I went through to pass math courses in college.
Honestly even if I understood the class when I tried to do the problems*poof* I totally blanked out. & word problems? Grief they were nightmares to me. I did actually flunk a Business math course, but the instructor was young & seemed to take the attitude that "I'll give you this grade this time & next time just try harder". Oh brother...
No you really arn't dumb at all. We just all seem to process differently then average people. Doesn't make us an idiot just different. Sometimes that's easier said then done, but we really do need to remind ourselves of that:)

LOL In algebra My teacher told my mom flat out that I was retarded!!!!! Mom, said In her polite way that I was not retarded just slow....the translation of such a polite reply can not be repeated in family forums :D

WOW.

I'm not the only one to have this problem. I've often said "I have a great memory, it just doesn't last too long" I read about 6 novels a month, and I cannot tell you anything specific about most of them. I've been struggling at work for the past six years and recently realized that it was because I simply could not keep all of the required technical information in my head. A major career move is in my future, I think.

It *is* rather embarressing to have a wide vocabulary but be unable to tell someone the author of the last three books you've read. I've found that neither ritalin or adderal help me with this.

<sigh>

I guess it is just one of those things that makes me, 'me'.


This is really a *great* place to hang out. I'm soooo glad I found this forum!

And Me....Ask me who Wrote "Something Dangerous" A Fictional book about a phsyco teenager....(all that I can remember about it :rolleyes: ) and I could not tell ya...I just know it was a FUBAR ending.

I am glad you found us too...Hugs to ya, Micheal!

LOL In algebra My teacher told my mom flat out that I was retarded!!!!! Mom, said In her polite way that I was not retarded just slow....the translation of such a polite reply can not be repeated in family forums :D
This would make you the original forest gump:D maybe you could sue for charactor assassination.

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO




Stupid is as stupid does......... cause life is like a box of chocolates...You never know how stupid and nasty the teacher is until you get Em. :D

on the other hand wouldn't he be our role model...you can't tell me he didn't have ADD.

Hmmmmmm.....Now that I think of it..He did have some of our traits....New POST!

would it included "Have you been shot in the buttocks?"

Well...ADD can be a pain in the Buttocks! :D