Identifying Learning Disabilities

The warning signs for ADD or ADHD include:

• Making careless mistakes in schoolwork

• Problems playing quietly

• Not listening to what is being said in class and at home

• Losing and misplacing belongings

• Having difficulty paying attention to tasks

• Inability to organize or prioritize tasks

• Difficulty sitting still

• Interrupting and talking excessively

Although most kids exhibit these behaviors from time to time, kids with ADHD exhibit these signs to an extreme. There is no quick treatment, but the problems can be managed by learning everything you can about the disorder; finding out what techniques would help manage your child’s behavior; creating an educational program to fit your child’s needs and exploring the possibility of medication with your pediatrician.

No one knows what causes ADD or ADHD. Some research suggests that individuals with ADD have a different brain metabolism. Evidence also supports the idea that ADD is inherited and not a result anything that occurred during pregnancy, the birth process or as a result of poor parenting.

Successful management of ADD or ADHD requires the support of parents, schools, counselors and medical doctors. With early intervention and continued support of the child and the whole family, individuals with ADD or ADHD can manage their disorder and become happy and productive adults.

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