IT sounds as though you have been given contradictory and misleading information with regard to the diagnosis. There are a number of issues here that you need to consider. Firstly, it is absolutely essential that a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD is not made by just one person, but instead it should be a multi-disciplinary team of experts that could include an Educational Psychologist, a Paediatrician, a Neurologist, an Occupatioonal Therapist and a Speech and Language Therapist, just to name a few. You need to assess all areas of functioning, as effective treatment and management of the symptoms of ADHD is going to be a holistic approach that addresses all areas. Secondly, it is important to remember that medication is often an important cornerstone of any treatment plan, but it is not the treatment plan on its own. Refer to previous responses of mine on the topic that outline the holistic treatment plan. On the topic of medication, remember that Ritalin is not the only medication available, and that there are newer alternatives which can be trialled. If you would like to get some clarity on the diagnosis I would suggest you consult with South Africa's 'guru' on the subject, Prof Andre Venter, the head of paediatrics at the University of the Free State. You can contact him through PANDASA (The Paediatric Neurology and Development Association of Southern Africa), whose website has a database of specialists. Here is a link and an article on ADD/ADHD.