An inborn weakness in attention control…
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a condition where a person has difficulty performing up to expectations (of themselves or those around them) due to a weakness they are born with in their ability to control or regulate attention. ADD is neurologically based, so traditionally it has been thought of as a medical diagnosis, but in recent years it is more often being treated as psychological problem. In truth, ADD really bears more resemblance to the other Learning Disabilities than it does to any medical or psychological illness.
ADD has many names. I prefer just plain “ADD” and will use that term throughout this article. However, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity, “Hyperactivity”, and even “Minimal Brain Dysfunction” (MBD) are all terms used for this condition. They all mean the same thing. Supposed distinctions between these terms are more semantic than genuine.