What's In A Name?

The term ADD seems to be universal now.  It rolls off the tongue like a benign word of it own, aydeedee.  But have you ever chaffed at the words it stands for?  Attention is neutral enough, but deficit and disorder, ouch.  

Those of us trained in all things ADD know that nothing could be further from the truth.  If there is one thing we ADDer's do not have a deficit in, it's attention.  We are always paying attention to Something! It may not be the thing we (or others) wish we were paying attention to, but paying attention we are.  And the disorder part, we are told that viewing ADD as a bona fide mental disorder is the only way to gain classroom or work accommodations, medication, and medical support.  But is that true?  Perhaps not.  

Two esteemed psychiatrists, one of whom I'm betting you cut your ADD teeth on, have just released a report calling for a complete paradigm shift in the way ADD is portrayed.  I believe the word they use most often is Genius.  

I will be posting a link to a free download of their report shortly.  Until then, how about Attentional Differences Diagnosis, or Attention Differential Diagnosis.  

What would you call ADD?

Candace

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