Attention Deficit Disorder can take several forms in children. It is not difficult to identify children - normally boys - with ADD, because their behaviour can be erratic. But then there are some types of ADD which go undiagnosed because their effects in children are less outwardly evident. This happens mainly in case of girls.

Consider the case of 'tomboys'. These are girls who frequently exhibit some of the telling features of ADD, such as being more involved in physical activities, but they may not be as reckless as the boys themselves. As a result teachers and parents jump to the conclusion that the child has no interest in study and is basically disorganized, but the possibility of ADD is seldom considered.

Besides the 'tomboy' types, the 'chatty' girls could also be suffering from ADD but remain undiagnosed. This is a fusion of over-activity and inattentiveness, and is usually touted as social extroversion. These girls are extremely talkative rather than being physically active, and won't stop talking even if they are strictly warned. They also cannot tell stories comprehensively and will stray from their thoughts because of ADD.

'Daydreamers' could also be suffering from ADD. They do not draw any attention to themselves and by nature, are very quiet. However, their introversion and lack of participation in class could be a manifestation of ADD. They may show anxiety and depression when given school projects, but cannot finish the projects because of their lack of attention. This generally goes undiagnosed because the child is thought to be lazy, and parents and teachers fail to identify the disorder.

What is fascinating is that many girls with ADD have quite a high IQ and could be called 'gifted'. When a child has a high IQ there are no problems with school work. Keep in mind that ADD is not a learning disorder, and patients are not inevitably poor performers in school. Until high school they can be quite well off, but with mounting pressure and assignments, symptoms may become more and more evident.

When undiagnosed, Attention Deficit Disorder may cause a lot of harm to an individual. Children may be called disorganized, unintelligent or lazy, when in truth, they might be silent sufferers of ADD. They may have low self esteem, and believe themselves to be quitters or stupid because of their problems. It is crucial that the problem is identified and treated before it becomes too late and any long-term damage is done.