Question

[Iwanttobenormal]

what are symptoms difference between ADD and cognitive impairment?

mom asking this because one doctor diagnosed me with cognitive impairment and another doctor diagnose me with ADD and dissasoative disorder personality disorder. Is it normal to have all that when you have ADD ? Doctors never explained anything to me. I'm feeling lost! I have always felt lost and alone . Does anyone feel like me?😔

[STEM_Dad]

ADD (now officially labeled ADHD) is a diagnosable condition.

"Cognitive impairment" might be the doctor's observation of your symptoms, or it might be that they made a diagnosis of "mild cognitive impairment" (MCI), which is also a diagnosis. I had to look that up, because I didn't know that it was a diagnosable condition. It's much more general, and apparently sometimes diagnosed when someone is impaired but not severely enough for a more specific diagnosis can be made.

(The examples that I read about MCI were from a website about Alzheimer's and dementia, so that skewed the context towards those conditions. But I have previously heard of "cognitive impairment" being related to autism, ADHD, learning differences, traumatic brain injury/concussion, shock, dehydration or malnutrition, depression, severe illnesses, etc.)

To know more clearly what your doctor meant but "cognitive impairment", whether it's an observation or a diagnosis, you would have to ask your doctor. It might be the doctor's acknowledgement that you have an impairment, while they might not be certain whether it's due to ADD/ADHD, or not.

ADHD diagnosis can take time. For me, the process took a couple of months... But I requested to be assessed for ADHD. If I hadn't, I might still be undiagnosed. (Finding an effective medication and dosage took several more months, once I was diagnosed.)

[BLC89]

Hello Iwanttobenormal,

I wonder if what they are talking about is Sluggish Cognitive Tempo SCT (terrible name I know!) which has a lot of overlap with ADHD symptoms.

"People with SCT have trouble focusing and paying attention, but they’re less likely to be impulsive or hyperactive." according to WebMD.

It has a lot of similarities with the inattentive side of ADHD and basically is a slower processing speed. To the outside world it looks like daydreaming, confused or distracted, lower energy or inclination for activity.

I don't know if that is what you feel but it is a separate diagnosis from ADHD. In my limited experience with it most practitioners aren't super familiar with it. It was established in the 1980s and, I think, because it looks so much like the inattentive side of ADHD, doesn't get a lot of attention.

I hope this helps,

BLC89