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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by IsoM on April 11, 2002, at 22:58:31
I've been busy reading more on ADHD, still trying to find ways of improving my coping strategies & came across something interesting. I'd like to get some feed-back from others with ADD or who knows someone well who has ADD.
In those with ADD, a region of the brain seems to be smaller than those of 'normal' individuals. This part of the brain is also involved in fluid, graceful coordinated movements - not the only area, but still, I found the connection interesting.
I have ADHD, as many forums readers probably know, & have problems with being graceful & well-coordinated. Even with typing, which I've done for many years, I'll still often hit two keys with one stroke. When I walk alongside someone, I often suddenly step out of line, bumping into them though I try not to. I wobble when I ride a bike enough to make me nervous to ride in traffic. And the list goes on which is why I tell people I'm kind of klutzy.
Has anyone else noticed a correlation between ADD & coordinated graceful movements, or is it just a coincidence with me? Comments welcome.
Posted by Spongemomsquarepants on April 11, 2002, at 23:50:59
In reply to ADHD/ADD and Physical Coordination, posted by IsoM on April 11, 2002, at 22:58:31
Hi,
I have looked into this because I have a son with Inattenitve ADHD..(No Hyper though) He has always been very coordinated, but many of the questionares asked about gross and fine motor skills. He was just diagnosed 2 months ago at the age of 13.
This link might help you http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/press/preleases/pr/pr_238.htm
Viki
Posted by Kelty on April 12, 2002, at 0:36:13
In reply to Re: ADHD/ADD and Physical Coordination, posted by Spongemomsquarepants on April 11, 2002, at 23:50:59
I have a husband, one daughter (20years) and one son (17 years) all of whom have ADHD. I found your post interesting because they all have such different levels of ability. My husband and son excell at sports and other activities that require good gross motor skills, and they are both poor at fine motor skilled activities. (My son's kindergarden teacher complained that he couldn't cut and paste, and he still isn't much good at it.) My daughter is an accomplished artist and dancer and a good typist, while both my son and my husband still hunt and peck.
Their traits are different in other ways too, my daughter's hyperactivity manifests mostly internally, her thoughts race and she is overly verbal, while my husband and son have trouble sitting still a lot more. By the way, my husband takes ritalin, my daughter takes only wellbutrin and my son copes without meds.
Your post has really got me thinking.
Hope this helps.
Posted by IsoM on April 12, 2002, at 0:39:34
In reply to Re: ADHD/ADD and Physical Coordination, posted by Spongemomsquarepants on April 11, 2002, at 23:50:59
Interesting, Viki. I'm not sure I like the part where it says "slighly lower IQs" :-)
But it did state "they sometimes had problems hearing if there was the slightest background noise, were poor readers and were clumsy and had difficulty knowing their physical boundaries and where their hands or fingers ended."
I'm an avid reader. But I really don't hear well when there's background noises - it's very difficult to distinguish individual sounds then. Nothing is distinct. I need to intensely concentrate to hear correctly & often ask others to repeat what they said. Not knowing where my physical boundaries are might explain why I often bump my elbows, feet, & even shoulders going through doorways, & bang my head so often.
I haven't had any serious accidents (other than scrapes, bumps & bruises) as I really try to be careful, realising I'm clumsy. My brother, though, who I swear is ADD, has injuried himself so many times in sometimes the weirdest ways.
Also when it was said they have learning disabilities, it was very true for my brother. For me, I always made it a practice to sit in the front of the class when small, & again, when I went to university. That made a big difference.
Posted by Spongemomsquarepants on April 12, 2002, at 0:47:54
In reply to Re: ADHD/ADD and Physical Coordination » Spongemomsquarepants, posted by IsoM on April 12, 2002, at 0:39:34
Interesting, Viki. I'm not sure I like the part where it says "slighly lower IQs" :-)
I didn't see that part! My son has an IQ Of about 160 or so. He is a good student, and a great kid. He may have a high IQ, however, that has no bearing on his future success. I don't really hang my hat on the IQ theories. My IQ is lower, but I can still outsmart him! LOL
Viki
Posted by IsoM on April 12, 2002, at 1:18:41
In reply to Re: ADHD/ADD and Physical Coordination, posted by Spongemomsquarepants on April 12, 2002, at 0:47:54
Yeah, Viki, I think the IQ thing was given more stock at one time. IQs aren't unchangable - I wonder if the tests weren't biased on how they were done. Besides, i believe the IQ thing has little to do with these sort of disorders. It hearkens back to the days when doctors thought all disorders came with lowered intelligence.
Posted by Ritch on April 12, 2002, at 10:54:35
In reply to ADHD/ADD and Physical Coordination, posted by IsoM on April 11, 2002, at 22:58:31
> I've been busy reading more on ADHD, still trying to find ways of improving my coping strategies & came across something interesting. I'd like to get some feed-back from others with ADD or who knows someone well who has ADD.
>
> In those with ADD, a region of the brain seems to be smaller than those of 'normal' individuals. This part of the brain is also involved in fluid, graceful coordinated movements - not the only area, but still, I found the connection interesting.
>
> I have ADHD, as many forums readers probably know, & have problems with being graceful & well-coordinated. Even with typing, which I've done for many years, I'll still often hit two keys with one stroke. When I walk alongside someone, I often suddenly step out of line, bumping into them though I try not to. I wobble when I ride a bike enough to make me nervous to ride in traffic. And the list goes on which is why I tell people I'm kind of klutzy.
>
> Has anyone else noticed a correlation between ADD & coordinated graceful movements, or is it just a coincidence with me? Comments welcome.
Well, that is very interesting. I have always been horribly uncoordinated. I just bought a new exercise machine (elliptical trainer), and I wanted to go backwards on it for the first week or two I was using it. Then when I tried to reverse direction one leg wanted to continue going backwards! I usually can "learn" new things requiring fine coordination, but it takes a LONG time, then I tend to get hyper-proficient in it. It is like the connections are hard to find--I can visualize a frantic switchboard operator plugging in all of the wires kind of like by trial-and-error to find the right "pathways" until the right ones are found. If I just had some patient "coaches"...Mitch
Posted by katekite on April 12, 2002, at 11:18:00
In reply to ADHD/ADD and Physical Coordination, posted by IsoM on April 11, 2002, at 22:58:31
Hi,
I find this thread interesting, having started on ritalin yesterday, at the age of 30. I definitely have ADD but was undiagnosed as my energy comes out in disconnected/racing thoughts and internal restlessness.
Physical activity:
I am a veterinarian, and was nominated in veterinary school for the top surgery student award.... I have excellent sewing ability, basically, and am good under pressure. I didn't get the award because I had managed to find a way to get out of taking the advanced surgery coursework and so it seemed wrong to the faculty to give the award to someone who hadn't taken all the elective surgery courses. So my fine motor coordination was always excellent, like to fix things, etc.
However, gross motor coordination such as basketball has always been hard. I always thought of myself as a nervous person, so that the pressure of making the ball go through the hoop would make me jitter enough that at the last second I'd miss. Completely erratic performance, make some shots from such a distance that it was inspiring, and miss most shots completely. On ritalin, as of yesterday, I am suddenly a consistently good shooter, though I'm still intimidated by good defense.
Same with baseball.... I could see the ball coming, but would swing at the wrong time, impulsively. Its not that I was horrible, just it wasn't my game, I felt. People always would just tell me to relax and watch the ball and I would think, I am trying so hard why isn't it easier?. I imagine if I went out and played now I would just be better, feel more relaxed about it.
Conversely, I'm not bad at dancing, I think because there is a beat to help me. If I were to try to dance without music it would not be pretty.
I'm not particularly graceful but I've never thought of myself as clumsy. Good fine motor coordination but not so great on tasks requiring good timing.
There, LOL, that's my contribution. I'm curious about others.
Kate
Posted by Hattree on April 12, 2002, at 11:31:23
In reply to Re: ADHD/ADD and Physical Coordination » IsoM, posted by katekite on April 12, 2002, at 11:18:00
Very bad at all sports with balls, tend to trip over stuff (curiously less so when wearing skis or rollerblades). Never made the ADD connection, though. Hmm.
Posted by IsoM on April 14, 2002, at 1:25:35
In reply to Re: ADHD/ADD and Physical Coordination » IsoM, posted by katekite on April 12, 2002, at 11:18:00
Well, with that range of answers, I'm not sure what to think. Perhaps in some people, a larger part of the posterior inferior vermis is involved, or maybe some people present with strong ADD features but caused by another thing entirely.
It's more the gross motor control that I have problems with. When I make mistakes with fine motor movements, it's more from my hands fingers responding lightning fast before my brain completes the thought (if that makes sense). I'm a skilled artist & can do fine, detailed work easily. It's more the equilibrium & gross motor skills that I suck at.
Thanks again everyone, I've got something to think about now & remember for future references.
This is the end of the thread.
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