Does ADD mean NT?

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I have thought about this for a while, but I need verification. Does ADD mean that you are Neurotypical? because I think that any disorder wouldn't be normal, but what is exactly normal?

Around here NT usually just indicates non-AS/non-autistic. It doesn't necessarily mean the person is normal overall. Confusing terminology...

i dont understand what you are asking. i know add is attention deficit disorder. i myself have the much more exciting adhd.

Yeah, but Neurotypical means







ADHD is one of those disorders that can be a mis-diagnosis of AS.

Here at WP, NT is non-autistic. But my husband and I use NT and AT, which means atypical. AT can be anything from autistic, to mentally ill/disordered, to plain genius.
I think there are genii that are AT but not necessarily autistic. I think there are people who schizophrenic and bipolar who aren't NT, they live outside the NT margin.
NT is pretty much average Joes that control the environment, institutions, and maintain binary thinking processes.

Neurotypical means that your brain structure is normal. People with mental illnesses might have abnormalities in brain CHEMISTRY but rarely in brain structure.

ADD is one of those things that it really depends who you ask. There are a lot of doctors right now that are saying that they believe ADD/ADHD is basically the "lightest" end of the autism spectrum. To those doctors, no ADD would not mean NT.

However, at this point we don't know enough about what brain abnormalities are present in any autistic spectrum conditions or in ADD/ADHD. Until more studies are done and more concrete evidence is available, it's all theories.

Here's a book that talks about it:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1578564980

So the spectrum focuses on mental disorders, making normalality a periphery?

I was perscribed ritalin one time, and it is primarily for ADHD! I do NOT have Attention Deficit, and certainly not Hyperactivity. I DO fit the AS profile, and the reason given for the ritalin was lack of social interaction!

Steve

This is interesting, because I was diagnosed with it whan I was 14 or 15 by a psychologist specializing in children / adolescents. I know that some of the symptoms fit me, but some definitely do not! And that's why my family doctor shook her head when she was informed... she was refilling a Ritalin prescription... she said "How could a child with ADHD sit still for long enough to read or play guitar like you do?" (and that was constantly ) And I always wondered that too.

Could it be misdiagnosis?

I was too!

It's on the list of mis-diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders.

Wiki implies that NT is a term coined by the ASD community. Some within that community even use it describe all non-ASD people, from that frame of reference, all ADHDers would be NT's.

Interestingly, I belong to an ADHD board. Some there have began to use the term NT with reference to "normal" people. Really, I think it's simply a way to "turn the tables" on society by labeling them.

So, then the question becomes are you asking if ADHD is also a disorder? It most definitely is and probably more impairing in society then Aspergers.

Your family Doctor is "out to lunch" on this topic. Attention span is no more a key component of ADHD then hand flapping is a key component of ASD. ADHDers often seek stimulation. If guitar playing is stimulating for you and you are ADHD, then unless you have an extreme case of ADHD, you will be able to play the guitar for hours. Remember that ADHDers are over represented by population in the entertainment and music business.

It was true that in the past that there was a lot more misdiagnosis of ADHD but things have changed for the better. I don't see family Dr.'s doing a diagnosis of the disorder in 10 minutes any more. They usually refer on to a Psychologist or Psychiatrist. Keep in mind that ADHD is no more a uniform grouping then Autism spectrum is. On one end we have ADHDers who are aggressive and often lack empathy and on the other end we have quiet, socially isolated ADHDers. Interestingly, I believe that there is a subgroup of ADHDers which have been labeled Sluggish Cognitive Tempo. I'd bet some of these people have probably have incorrectly gotten a diagnosis of Depression or even Aspergers because they are emotionally blunted, some what shy, daydreamy, and also socially isolated.

I'm too lazy to look up the study but infact person with ADHD did infact over time not
improve on certain tasks as well as those with ASD. I also follow a ADHD forum and
their are some major impairments there. People with ADHD do have social skills problems and problems getting tasks finished(define it however you want I define it
as I rather daydream and am powerless to over ride that).

So yes your not NT if you have ADHD. People with " pure" ADHD and "pure" ASD
do infact get along well together (compared to NT). The term NT as one said before
is a made up term with no scientific basis so do not get wrapped up in the term.

You could have both- I know someone who has ADD and AS, and according to his therapist it's a very common combination. I've known him for quite a while, and he certainly doesn't fit the AS "stereotype", although having learned about ADD I think that description fitted him. He now takes ritalin, and I've not seen much of him since he started taking it, but perhaps his AS traits will now be more obvious. It's certainly helped him though.

There's no real concept of normality when it comes to mental context, because how can you define a fair universal cultural benchmark for it? However there's such a thing as being typical or mainstream and hence they say they're 'normal' because they're the majority. So basically to me, saying normal is saying you're mainstream and not different to the general population, therefore rendering the term normal redundant. There's a good reason why that's the case and that's because, perception of normality does vary between cultures, species and even possibly worlds; and I doubt a universal consensus could ever be established to determine who or what is 'normal', everything is unique even to the smallest detail. Sorry if I went off track, but I thought people might like to think about what I said here.

As for being ADD considered NT? If you go by the criteria that NT equals person without noticeable mental aspects different to the mainstream mindset? No, they're not NT, but simply in their own category of ADD my guess.

I'm not a specialist, but I do feel that ADHD will someday be on the Spectrum and is probably a form of "Aspergers lite." These kids seem to have the same exact struggles as Aspies. ADHD is often the first dx. somebody gets before AS. I got it as did my son. I'm kind of leery of ADHD. I'm beginning to think it's diagnosed for every childhood symtpom. I'm not a fan of handing out stims to little kids unless you are positive you are treating ADHD and, without a blood test, how can you know? My son got aggressive on stims and stims made me wackier than I already am