ADD/ADHD-Has Anyone Noticed This

[Country Kids]

I've had a few kids over the years that have been diagnosed once they started school with ADD/ADHD. I had told the parents the whole time they were here that something was up but they all waited till school to get the "official" diagnoses. I also know some children with ADD/ADHD outside of my childcare.

I would say 95% of them have lighter color hair (blonde or very light, light brown) and lighter color eyes (mainly blue). Has anyone else ever noticed this with children that have these learning disorders? I have always wondered if its something to do with the genetic makeup with lighter hair/eye color?

I have another one that I think maybe on the spectrum with this and has the bluest eyes/blondest hair. Older sibling had issues and was also blonde and blue eyed.

[MarinaVanessa]

My DD was diagnosed with ADHD in first grade (it took us that long to get our insurance company to pay for the visits etc.) and she doesn't have light/hair eyes. From what i've noticed theres a good even mix of light/dark hair/eyes kids diagnosed with ADHD/ADD but in my area we've got a really good mix of races. Could it be that maybe in your area you have a prominent light hair/eyes community?

[sharlan]

I disagree. I've had a mixed bag of add/adhd kids. Only 1 was fair hair/skin/eyes.

My worst was a girl from Argentina (dark hair and eyes). At 9, that girl was 100% in control of her family and was very proud of the fact. The parents wanted all sorts of accomodations for this child that weren't needed. I was happy to see them leave.

[Unregistered]

I had or have ADHD as did all of my friends growing up. All of us different nationalities but all from NYC. I would think that our brains contoured itself to city life w all the back ground noises, cars, languages etc. none of my friend from the country were this way. I am assuming that ADD/HD is a coping mechanism. I can't focus on what is a block ahead of me but I am aware of the car coming towards me as well as how many people are around me and what they r saying. Plus, boys r hyper. We weren't as hyper in school cause we had gym and recess. If u keep any boy in class without allowing him to burn off some steam he is going to get fidgety. My stepson is hyper. Duh. He's a boy. Guess what? Has gym only once a week vice everyday like when I was a kid

[Shell]

I was thinking about this, and I can say that I've had just as many light as dark children with both autism and add/ADHD. I do , however , think ADD is highly over diagnosed to boys that just have steam to burn off. I agree with pp about boys and how being able to get out some energy helps with attention span tremendously. I used to work in a public preschool in a very wealthy town, and I swear, so many kids had IEP's unnecessarily.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I've had a few kids over the years that have been diagnosed once they started school with ADD/ADHD. I had told the parents the whole time they were here that something was up but they all waited till school to get the "official" diagnoses. I also know some children with ADD/ADHD outside of my childcare.

I would say 95% of them have lighter color hair (blonde or very light, light brown) and lighter color eyes (mainly blue). Has anyone else ever noticed this with children that have these learning disorders? I have always wondered if its something to do with the genetic makeup with lighter hair/eye color?

I have another one that I think maybe on the spectrum with this and has the bluest eyes/blondest hair. Older sibling had issues and was also blonde and blue eyed.

Now that you mention it yes I have noticed this here. Hmmm. At least with ADHD.

But, I am an Aspie and I was born with black hair and brown eyes. My hair is now dark brown.

[SignMeUp]

I've had one with red hair/green eyes, one brown hair/eyes, one African American brown hair/brown eyes, one sandy hair/brown eyes.

[Thriftylady]

I swore my DD had ADD or ADHD for years and they said no. I still think so now that she is 16. She is fair skinned and brunette (like her momma). She still has to work her behind off to do what some find easy. She is an honor roll student in all AP classes, but it isn't easy for her and her reading is tough, she just hates it because she has a hard time sitting down and reading, keeping her brain on her reading. She IQ tests high, but "performs" low on normal testing. What is that? I don't know but I think sometimes we want all the kids to streamline into "easy to teach". I think it is happening as much as always but diagnosed more because the kids are not "easy".

[daycare]

It could just be the area where you live there are more cacussion children than other races???

[TwinKristi]

Of my 6 children, the one with the lightest blond hair and fairest skin has ADHD. Could be coincidence. I know several children with ADHD who aren't though so I don't know if it's even a connection or not.

[Second Home]

I have had 2 dck one with adhd and the other on the autism spectrum . Both had dark hair and eyes .

[NightOwl]

Interesting.... I know one child who is severely adhd and his hair is so blonde that it's almost white.

[Little Buttons]

I swore my DD had ADD or ADHD for years and they said no. I still think so now that she is 16. She is fair skinned and brunette (like her momma). She still has to work her behind off to do what some find easy. She is an honor roll student in all AP classes, but it isn't easy for her and her reading is tough, she just hates it because she has a hard time sitting down and reading, keeping her brain on her reading. She IQ tests high, but "performs" low on normal testing. What is that? I don't know but I think sometimes we want all the kids to streamline into "easy to teach". I think it is happening as much as always but diagnosed more because the kids are not "easy".

Not to play Doctor but have you had her screened for Dyslexia? It is often confused with ADD/ADHD.Reading and concentration are a very common symptom as well as a higher IQ. I am Dyslexic, however, I was not diagnosed until college which made previous schooling very difficult and left me feeling fairly stupid. It is more of a different way of thinking than a learnng dissabiity perse. Most children and adults with Dyslexia have picture associations for everything...days of the week, months, words, number lines. There are varying types of Dyslexia with differing associated problem areas.

[Blackcat31]

Might be an area thing....

I live in an area that is predominantly of Scandinavian descent (blonde hair/blue eyes) and 95% of the kids I know that are ADD/ADHD are dark haired with brown or green eyes.

[Thriftylady]

Not to play Doctor but have you had her screened for Dyslexia? It is often confused with ADD/ADHD.Reading and concentration are a very common symptom as well as a higher IQ. I am Dyslexic, however, I was not diagnosed until college which made previous schooling very difficult and left me feeling fairly stupid. It is more of a different way of thinking than a learnng dissabiity perse. Most children and adults with Dyslexia have picture associations for everything...days of the week, months, words, number lines. There are varying types of Dyslexia with differing associated problem areas.

I thought about having her tested for that. But she is a straight A student in all advanced placement classes now that she is in HS. She just hates to read. Somehow she gets the grades though I just don't get it .