The best Children's Learning Disorders books: Reddit reviews

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This. I felt the same way as OP about my dyslexia for 10+ years, until a month ago when I read a book called The Dyslexic Advantage. It explained the four benefits in this post with chapters on the benefits and the tradeoffs for each of these styles of reasoning.

The back of the book also has an appendix of recommended careers for each strength, and one with a TON of resources of dyslexics in school, college, work, etc.

I came away with a whole new take on dyslexia and am for once happy with my brain (for the most part). I highly recommend getting the book from the library or Amazon and giving it a read.

Edited for clarity.

I understand the concern about going to a doctor and them telling you that’s actually you’re “normal.” As if finding out all the things you’re struggling with are not adhd and therefore there’s a problem because you just can’t figure some things out. I was diagnosed with adhd a little older than you (8-10) and my parents were supportive and I was treated. As an adult (20s) I was worried that if I ever got “re tested” they’d say I don’t have it then I’d have all these concerns about myself.

Check out this book and if it sounds like how you feel it may reaffirm some things for you. I would also recommend just going to the doctor (or a therapist if you want to start there but they can’t prescribe medicine usually).

https://www.amazon.com/Driven-Distraction-Revised-Recognizing-Attention/dp/0307743152

I am happy you are coming around and are determined to tackle this properly. My son struggles with inattentive ADHD and there have been times when it was such a struggle for him to do anything. I went out and did research and after we started tackling it his teachers within months were seeing a difference.

The main resource my wife and I rely on is a book called Finally Focused which gave us a way to approach it methodically and without jumping straight to the drugs. Learning about magnesium deficiency and things like that was eye-opening and made the ADHD a lot less scary, that a large part of it is fixable and that the brain is not "broken".

God is good and it sounds like He has been pretty awesome in helping you live a good and productive life. I pray that you continue to find your strength him Him as you find the next steps to take down this path.

Came here to say this — Finally Focused by James Greenblatt, MD is specifically about the nutritional deficiencies correlated with ADHD in both children and adults. Cover has kids on it (but it applies to anyone), cheesy subtitle, but chock full of info including regarding what to test.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0451496590/

A.D.D. and ADHD are often concurrent with another cognitive / learning disability.

The classic tome on this subject is a book called Driven To Distraction by Dr. Edward Hallowell (M.D.) - This may be a good starting place. Finding a good specialist is of course indispensable.

https://www.amazon.com/Driven-Distraction-Revised-Recognizing-Attention/dp/0307743152

I was diagnosed at 5 and thought I grew out of it.

I did not. Instead I was just barely coping. Always in trouble at work, always half-finished projects, all my bills paid late, moving every 6 months. Getting help has changed me from being someone who is chronically late to someone that's 5 minutes early.

To all my ladies with ADHD. YOU ARE NOT A FUCKUP OR A FAILURE.

What's changed my world is understanding how my brain and body work and creating sustainable routines in my life. The way I think is different and I have learned to work with myself instead of against it.

You may needs meds, or counseling, or a combination. But you are not a shitty person. Help is out there.

Recommended reading:

Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder

Link to Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Driven-Distraction-Revised-Recognizing-Attention/dp/0307743152

My friend with ADHD recently started reading this book for help with executive functioning. Maybe it will help you

https://www.amazon.com/Delivered-Distraction-Getting-Attention-Disorder/dp/0345442318

I strongly believe that my depression/generalized anxiety disorder diagnosis in my early twenties was just the manifestation of undiagnosed ADHD- I felt like a failure that needed to be perfect because "easy" tasks were so difficult for me and if I "just worked harder" I could be "normal".

Since my diagnosis and trying medication and reading You Mean I'm not Lazy, Crazy, or Stupid?, most of my depression/anxiety has melted away. This is obviously not a guarantee, and your milage will certainly vary, but I for me, having an explanation for what my brain was doing outside of "you useless fool idiot" helped erase that core belief.

If getting a referral is difficult or you'll be facing a long wait, I'd recommend picking that book up. It's a really approachable read that felt really good for me as an adult figuring out that sometimes my brain just does things differently.

thank you for the suggesstion. after looking at that book, amazon recommended this one and the title alone made me cry.

My daughter is SPD, I learned a lot from her OT but, there is a book that might help: Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0060932929/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BAohFb8GCPXHP

Go to Amazon and look at this book. You can look inside if you dont want to buy it, scroll down and you'll see a list.....welcome to the club.

Only reason I went is because I had this one boss that also had ADD and recognized the signs in me. He recommended me this book, which wound up being the push I needed to go get help. Maybe you'll find it useful. It very much changed my life.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307743152/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_XH91AKDR9ZMAYKE7Z3QQ

I'm not a doctor - and I know r/nootropics is all about giving each other supplement advice and all - but this is your child so I'm hesitant to say. One of the articles I read on omega 3s + kids linked to this book which looks legit. Being a few years old it might even be available as an ebook from your library.

Hope that helps! Your kid is lucky to have such a proactive mom.

23 is so vary young. Your brain is probably not even fully developed. I would encourage you to read ADD friendly ways to organize your life ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life: Strategies that Work from an Acclaimed Professional Organizer and a Renowned ADD Clinician https://www.amazon.com/dp/1138190748/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_A2F751QK3E39ZMG71R21

And just focus on one thing at a time. Use the 5 second rule to complete tasks. The 5 second rule is the ADHD person’s best friend. It’s very simple identity something to do, count 5,4,3,2,1 and do it. Once you start accomplishing tasks you will feel better about yourself. You have a gift right now to be able to be so young. Enjoy it!

Have you considered that you might have add/ADHD?

https://www.amazon.com/You-Mean-Lazy-Stupid-Crazy/dp/0743264487/ref=asc_df_0743264487

Might wanna check out that book. Just got a very add symptom vibe from your post.

I am sorry that you don’t have the support that you need. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with learning skills that will help you while waiting for an diagnosis. There’s some great workbooks on executive functions that could help you with your education. This book was a game changer for me: ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life: Strategies that Work from an Acclaimed Professional Organizer and a Renowned ADD Clinician https://www.amazon.com/dp/1138190748/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_EWZC619575ZRNSGXBBCC

Read this book, or better yet listen to it, it’ll change your life...for the better 🙂 Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307743152/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_WR7PSZQ6ZJF99GJ30NVE

Part of what you mentioned also reminded me. Check out https://www.amazon.com/You-Mean-Lazy-Stupid-Crazy/dp/0743264487

It was an interesting read for me, and kinda brought a lot of things into focus for me, even though I've had the diagnoses for most of my life.

My therapist recommended this book which addresses the concern we all have about whether we're making this up or not.

"You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Crazy, or Stupid?”

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0743264487/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DEjaGbSG0TCF3

Yeah I get it. I was in those shoes a couple years ago. It all fit really strongly (I thought of myself as super absent minded and forgetful), but people are so touchy about ADHD being overdiagnosed that I wanted to be super sure.

So I just told my doctor what I was having issues with, he suggested it could maybe be ADHD, and I told him I really wanted to confirm it absolutely for sure sure. So he referred me to a neuropsychologist to do the testing. Cost me about $800 after insurance.

Separately, many people (myself included) have found this book super helpful for understanding ADHD. I think I did the audiobook version on audible. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307743152

I am here to second (or I guess now third) this suggestion! I am still at the beginning, but it was finally like "wow, someone actually gets me!" Not sure about you, but the title alone speaks volumes since those tend to be my own thoughts about myself. I hope you check it out and that it helps. It's currently on sale on Amazon so it's only like $11!

What you described is pretty much exactly how I was for the first 22 years of my life. Those 3 disorders are definitely related and exacerbate each other. Things changed dramatically once I got treatment. I didn't stay on medication long term but the time I spent on it completely course corrected my life in more ways than I could list here.

This book was recommended to me by a boss I had who suffers from ADD and noticed similar traits in me (and in typical fashion, I only read half of it). It may help nudge you in the right direction.

You mean I’m not Lazy, stupid, or crazy?

[SPOILER BELOW]
This book helped open my eyes to how many people think like me.

(Spoiler alert: no, you aren’t any of those things)

*applauding with a big smile and wiping away a tear*

Well done.

As others say, don't feel driven off re: medication. You might not need it, or want it, but if you do - I think it's a disservice to yourself to not pursue it. If you don't, fair play and big thumbs up, but I know in my situation it'd have been a poor move on my part. Be encouraged, in any event. :)

Also, for a practical book that may be of interest, I've found this to be really decent: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ADD-Friendly-Ways-Organize-Your-Life/dp/1138190748/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=VVSYCVVERHK8WQZ45ZMY

Best of luck!

I haven’t ever gotten close to half way through a book on Dyslexia. Usually something will come up will reading it that triggers shame, frustration or sadness to be honest. I think I watched a TED talk, I can’t remember if it was one of the ones I linked for you that said most people with Dyslexia experience the same level of shame around it as those who have experienced incest. Growing noticeably dyslexic this rings true for me.

I’m sure after a watching a few TEDtalks on Dyslexia and maybe reading a few articles you will already be far more informed than your mom. It’s also okay to draw boundaries and tell her that you are not open to discussing that topic with her at the moment if you don’t feel ready. If she steps on your boundaries and tried to force it then you may be required to leave to reinforce your boundaries.

And if you do try to enlighten her and she isn’t respective then that is on her and not your fault. You are not responsible for her ignorance if she simply can’t or won’t understand.

Here is a link to one book on Dyslexia I am considering reading though. Perhaps your local library has it or would order it for you. I mostly use audiobooks to read.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0452297923?ref=exp_thedyslexiaclassroom_dp_vv_d

I read it before getting diagnosed with ADHD and found it interesting but I was not successful at making use of any of it.

The one tidbit I recall that I thought was genius was setting up your environment to make it easier to do things you want and harder to do things you don't want. Maybe it's a stage of life thing but swapping leisure time for more productive hobbies doesn't interest me right now. My life is hard enough, let me do nothing in my spare time, you know? That's what I need.

But if I was engaging in unhealthy activities and wanted to change that, I would totally use that technique.

The one book in that vein that really spoke to me (disclaimer: as a mother of teenage kids who works full time) is ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life Second Edition: Strategies that Work from an Acclaimed Professional Organizer and a Renowned ADD Clinician

My pleasure. I saw an OT after my autism diagnosis to look at things that may help my sensory processing problems but a lot of it is trial and error. Everyone is different but all my (adult) autistic friends find having a soft toy helps and I have a soft blanket to stroke as well, one's into chewelry and most of us stroke pets to calm down and talk to them. It all depends if your friend is a sensory seeker or avoider. I'm generally an avoider but there are some fragrancies I really like but most I hate so I'm both a sensory seeker and avoider when it comes to smells. Rocking, humming, lightly thumping my chest, flapping, immersing my face in cold water and other forms of stimming calm me down the most. The OT recommended this book

Ugh so I bought this book which was recommended by many: https://www.amazon.com/You-Mean-Lazy-Stupid-Crazy/dp/0743264487?language=en_US&currency=USD

but I never read it. People said it’s good, but consider buying only when you know you will read it💀

Buy yourselves a copy of Scattered: How Attention Deficit Disorder Originates and What You Can Do About It

It was a game changer for me.

This happens to a lot of us. I got spared the brunt of this since I was diagnosed as an adult. I was just a "scatterbrained high-energy late bloomer who said silly shit." I didn't know I had ADHD so I just got to accept those parts of myself as me.

I guess that's my advice to you. Accept yourself. Whether you have ADHD or not. Accept who you are. Then you can get help with the things you want to change and you can appreciate the parts of you that you like about yourself.

I definitely recommend seeing a professional. Negative self-perception was one of the first things my psychiatrist went over with me.

I haven't read it but he recommended a book to me about it,

"You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy?"

(https://www.amazon.com/You-Mean-Lazy-Stupid-Crazy/dp/0743264487?ref_=d6k_applink_bb_dls&dplnkId=60445ac3-9b9c-48b6-b4ea-bcbde2b3f596)

Hope that helps!