Originally Posted by Artsmartmom
How old was your DD when ADD became apparent? I can see that -- sort of -- with Natalie -- but not in a hyper way at all -- more in a my brain is going faster than I can keep up with sort of a way.
My dd, too, is not hyper per se although she can talk non-stop at home (she, too, is known by her teachers for being quiet and when I see how she is at school she looks present in body only at times).

In hindsight, it was apparent from early on -- by 1st grade at least and possibly much, much sooner. B/c her issues are related to "inattentiveness," which seems to be her attention being in too many places or her mind moving in many directions at once rather than inability to pay attention from what I can see, the issues really weren't something that would be issues prior to school, though.

When she's been asked to do tasks, such as reading, that require prolonged attention to one thing without the mental divergences, that's when it has been really apparent. She takes forever on things b/c she can't stay focused on that one thing or she does less than her best b/c she can't or doesn't sustain the mental energy needed to stick it through and do her best.

Those types of issues were apparent by 1st grade but not to teachers b/c she was still performing well by the standards they had, which were for children of average intellect. Likewise, I suspect that many or most of her current teachers would say the same -- they don't see the LD b/c she compensates well enough that she does not stand out to someone who doesn't know her as well as I do.