Expert: Dr Billy Levin - 10/5/2011

Question
My daughter is 8 years old and in the third grade.  Last year we had many issues that seemed to all be pointing to a visual processing issue.  She had an issue with seeing the black lettering on white paper, preferred the yellow paper or colored overlays.  Flipped letters constently but not consistently, her reading was way behind.  After some vision testing it was determined that she had eye teaming issues but individually her eyes were fine.  She was put in glasses and worked hard on her reading and is now at if not above her reading level but can not read for a substantial period of time.
Her writing is way behind now and in the 3rd grade is still flipping letters, some numbers.  She  has a hard time focusing on her work and needs to constently be redirected, at school and home. While in the past we always thought we were dealing with a vision I am now wondering if we are also dealing with an attention issue.  The school is thinking along that way and will be doing the Conners worksheet tomorrow.  My question is how is one diagnosed with ADD and should I also be requesting other tests as well?  Does dyslexia run in families?  We will be visiting the peditrician next week.  Thanks for any input.

Answer
Too often I have to say, once you ask me, be prepared to hear what I have to say. Everything you have said suggests a specific inherited neurological  condition and if I am right you have been terribly misled.
   Reversals of letters, poor reading (dyslexia),writing(dysgraphia)  and concentration problems all suggest ADHD/ADD. The black on yellow applies to everyone but more so if you cannot concentrate. Black letters on white pages is a strain on the Retina of the eye. She almost certainly does not have a visual problem but an auditory perceptual problem. You have to learn to read with yor ears (phonics) to start with, so you can later read to learn with your eyes.  
  Conners are not requested by a school and is not a work sheet. It is a set of specific questions.There are many different Conners rating scales.  It is the expert doctor who asks for it and he interprets it. A Conners takes a few minutes to complete by both the parent and the teacher. It takes a few seconds to analyse it, as part of a neurolgical assessment by a doctor expert in ADHD/ADD. As you have not mentioned behavior problems she appeas to have ADD and not ADHD. The sequence of events after an official medical diagnosis is:-
1) Medication..to make her more teachable.
2) Motivation..to make her more confident and willing
3) Education.. by a knowledgable and experienced and sympathetic teacher
4) Specific remedial programs in areas that need boosting.
5  Monthly reevaluation with Conners from both parent and teacher, to optimize her medical treatment.
  I hope this helps you to do what is required, but my advice to you is become an expert for your child's sake!