Expert: Dr Billy Levin - 9/15/2009

Question
My 11 year old son has a history of motor dyspraxia. He has strong verbal skills on a WISC assessment but is much weaker on the performance scale (especially visual-spatial). He is just coping at school academically and socially but is very weak in maths.I see some of the features of ADD (without hyperactivity). Would it be an advantage to have him assessed for ADD ? I'm wondering what is different about ADD from behaviours that could just be a consequence of his struggles with dyspraxia (e.g.his  inatttentiveness, tendency for concentration to drift).

Answer
From what you describe I have no doubt whatsoever that there might be more to his problem than just Dyspraxia. In itself it is not a complete diagnosis and is often associated with ADD. It would be in your son's interest to be evaluated by and expert ADD/ADHD medical doctor as soon as possible.