A.d.h.d
 

Sorhors' & sisterfriends'

What are your views concerning the diagnostic and treatment of "attention deficit disorder", seeing that more children--considerably more boys than girls-are being diagnosed with this disease. For those of you who have an opposing view, would your perception change if it was your child who was diagnosed with this disease?

Late I will post my view point concerning this topic.








Tinese

Soror, great topic!

I have a strong view point concerning Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder because I have a child diagnosed with it. It led me to be interested in the Special Education field and further my education and understanding of it. Since I am in the field everyday and live with a 13 year old boy with this condition I almost consider myself to be an expert.

There is a biological reason why more boys have this condition than girls. I'd like to know how others feel also.

I'm still learning about this but my niece was recently put on medication for this. I personally think that people/parents/doctors are too quick to hand out meds nowadays. I think our society has just created a generation of people who have short attention spans.:(

Speaking from the view of someone who works with children who are diagnosed with this disorder or whose parents feel their child needs assessed for the diagnosis, I do feel that you are right. More boys than girls come in with the diagnosis. Many of the children we see were exposed to lead, drug exposed or were referred here due to behaviors at home and at school. Some of these children are very sick and only medication can assist them to lead a somewhat normal life. But our agency also push parents to enroll their children in our behavior groups to teach children how to deal with their diagnosis (know their onsets and how to get themselves back on task). The psychiatrist here does push meds if he feels that it is needed but, it is not always the first option.

The diagnosis and treatment is something people should be very careful with. There's several things that can mimic ADHD symptoms, if you don't have it. Even if you do have it, there's things that can make the symptoms worse.

As for medication, I don't think it is the only option. I know several people who can cope fine without meds. I discontinued it last October or November, and have been doing OKAY. I'm optimistic that my coping skills will get better and better the longer I stay off them. Controlling my impulses and channeling my energies positively is the easy part, but controlling my attention span is way more hard. Fortunately, I have been making some progress in that area also (but slowly).

I also fit into the category of people who do actually have the condition but had other things that made my symptoms worse. I was wondering why my medicine was not helping me like they said it would. I had some tests ran and I found out that I had an iron deficiency and some mild problems with blood sugar. So, if you or someone you know is taking medication and it is not helping, do some investigating. DO NOT LET THE DOCTOR CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE DOSES IF IT ISN'T WORKING!

My son was 13 year old son was diagnosed with A.D.H.D and I have major concerns regarding the medication. In my research I found out that metaphate (ritalin derivative) is considered a class b or a substance--the same catagory as cocaine. I also found that with continuous usage of the medication, that it can possible damage the brain.

I am contemplating whether my son should take the medicine or not based on this information. I'm also ascertaining alternative sollutions to the medications. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.



Tinese

One alternative to medication is behavioral cognitive therapy. It has helped some children as well as a change in diet. But every ADHD child is different. If you haven't already, contact the local CHADD group in your area for other ideas. It's not fair that some parents have to put their children on medications that haven't been reseached enough to provide the potential side effects that occur when these kids become adults. Drug companies should not use these children as guinea pigs. They should do the work before the drug comes on the market.

TheEpitome1920, there are several different theories as to why there's a increase in children who have short attention spans. There's one study out attributes the amount of exposure kids have to watching tv before the age four to the amount of add/adhd a kid may have.

Bluereign I wasn't aware that boys are more diagnosed than girls. I was under the impression that most girls weren't diagnosed as quickly as boys because they can exhibit different symptoms when it comes to add or adhd.

My daughter is also going to be tested for ADD/ADHD. At one point, I couldn't see any option but medication, but now, I'm getting nervous about it. I want to continue to try and work with her without the meds. Hopefully I can continue to channel her energy with different activities and help her to focus, although it's hard.

I agree with Dionysus. Obtaining a diagnosis and treatment for ADD or ADHD is something that people should really be careful with. Nutritional counseling can also go a long way with any child's behavioral problem. I think that parents should really look into it, even if they get a prescription. I have friends who work with kids and they had to consult physicians because their dosages were too high. The parents (and some teachers) were fine because the kids were not causing problems. The kids weren't causing problems because they were stoned.

I am not saying this happens in all cases, but ritalin is not a cureall by any means.

all of my previous girlfriends say i suffer from this.

I am still learning everyday about this condition. I feel that the name itself should be changed. It is really not a "deficit" or a "disorder". The condition is a really "a heightened awareness" about everything. The person who has this condition really is able to "pay attention" but to everything at once. It is difficult to channel what to narrow their focus on.

To a child entering a primary grade classroom it is very hard to focus on the teacher because they are able to take in everything at one time. It is almost equivalent to being in a circus. Classrooms are often "too decorated" (colors, shapes, the alphabet, things hanging from ceilings, etc.) for these children to focus on any one particular thing. The medication assists in turning off some of these "extra senses".

Medication should not be started unless everything else has been ruled out. Some children have vision/hearing problems as well as discipline problems. If the child has very little structure prior to starting school they will have problems staying seated, on task, etc. It still may take several years for them to adjust to being seated and expected to complete tasks in a timely manner.

There is so much more that I feel about this but I am saving it for my dissertation one day. ;)

I'm scuuured of you soRHOr!!

We had an inservice on this topic at school-basically they came to the conclusion that Teachers should offer Behavior Contracts and strong parental involvement as way to deal with ADHD-instead of pills. What was interesting was the fact that they said it was genetically inherited and there were numerous questions as to what brought this about?

DISCLAIMER
**I am only gonna speak from the experience of the people that I know. So if you know someone with this disorder don't take it personal**


I know people who's child/children supposedly have this condition. The problem that I have with these parents is that they NEVER disciplined their children. And if you don't discipline your child at an early age, then when will you start? Well the child was brought to our house for the holidays and she tried to jump fly by acting like she does with her mother. Well, we shut that down real quick! She was actually good the whole week. We didn't give her that medication and she was still good. As soon as her mother came over to pick her up, her mode flipped. So she started being disrespectful to her mother and the mother didn't say anything. We disciplined the child for doing that. The mother went on to say how she couldn't do anything with the child, yada yada yada. Well she decides to take the child to the doctor and of course the doctor diagnosed her with ADHD. She was put on meds and when she comes around its like she's a zombie or she's high. She sits still and looks at people with a blank stare. She shows no emotion or anything. I just can't believe that she was too lazy to discipline her child but it was ok to put the child on medication.

If the child actually have this condition that's one thing, but to put a child on meds because you don't want to face the fact that you don't feel that you should discipline your child is horrible.

And I couldn't agree with you more icebrAKA! One of my greatest challenges in this field is dealing with children who are supposedly "ADHD" when I know that they really haven't been dealt with properly in the displine area. Then when they happen to be "off the meds" for whatever reason -- whew! Let's just say that if it wasn't for God giving me the patience I would not have a job ....:rolleyes: and would be seriously considering some other occupation.

Interesting...
 

Why "our" kids? Quick to give them a diagnosis for their behavioral problems rather than tackling ways on dealing with the issue...

Like a physician said at an event, "you are not a number or statistic, you are a person and you should be treated as such..."

That said, it sounds like a number of children are being reported as ADHD. Many reasons for that diagnosis. Aside from the overt ones, drugs, toxic substances, poverty, etc., it sounds like it could just be possibly a true "neurological developmental program" or phenomena that "just happens at that age..."

So, in neurobiology, from what I remember, there is this concept called "long term potentiation" for plasticity of neurons. Well, kids brains ain't all that well wired because, they have not had "life experiences" as grown ups have had...

While they get these "experiences", their wires start to "potentiate" and cross over for them to interpret their reality--part of being human... Generally, humans learn by association--studies have shown that; whereas, other animals do not learn that way, they learn differently...

So, if connections are not made properly, a human child can re-establish a connection to make it work. Sometimes that is not always for the best. So that is why nutrition for a child is extremely important.

Dare I say, what I am currently reading in the scientific texts about sleeping, I would say kids need proper rest, too.

Then, one thing I would also hone down is strict schedules and routine. For some reason, kids like that.

And also, mind engagement, such a reading, etc.

I would be hardcore and burn my TV if I had a child diagnosed with ADHD.

I would NEVER let him or her have the chance to watch that thing... No telling what it does to brain development...

Then, I would make sure there is enough appropriate physical activity as possible. I've heard yoga helps children focus... So I've heard...

So, good luck with seeking help and alternatives...

And I would ALWAYS seek another opinion... Explore your options... That is what these "health & education societies" promulgate themselves as...

Re: Interesting...
 

This is why we have so many children being improperly diagnosed with this condition when they don't have it. I know of so many parents who never really see their children. This particular student of mine is basically on his own. He told me so. His mom works 4pm-12 midnight and does not get up to see him off to school. His step dad is home in the evening but not engaged enough with him to make a difference in his life. Then when kids like him come to school it is too much routine and structure and rules and things that they are not used to. In order to make them fit in they feel they have to use the meds to get the desired behavior and this is really sad. :(

Ladies,

As someone who is working towards an MA in School Counseling, I know that I'll have to know how to deal with ADHD-diagnosed kids. But reading your responses has led me to ask another question:

How do you explain ADULTS with ADHD? Why are so many adults now being diagnosed?

Sorry to crash:

I diagnosed myself with ADD in college, went to the doctor who said I was textbook. No, I was not one of those college students out to get a Ritalin script...

Anyway, I've had it my entire life, I can look back and see that. My doctor pointed out that girls tend to get overlooked as they usually get good grades and tend toward doodling and daydreaming instead of causing trouble in class. I didn't have to pay attention in class until high school sophomore or junior year and then I just readjusted to the exact amount of attention I needed to give.

While I agree that it is often overdiagnosed and doesn't always need medicine prescribed, it isn't just made up or a result of TV/video games. I was well raised and did well in school. I just can't write a 4 page paper in less than 6 hours if it's acting up, there are too many other things to do.

The worst part is that I forget to take my pills (Stratera which is not a Ritalin derivitive, it's in a whole other class of drugs) but once I start grad school this fall I'll be back on it as I need it to study.

/If I remember
//I have a BA in Psychology and am getting my MA in Human Development Counseling with a cert. in Marriage and Family Therapy

Glad to know that you are not letting it get the best of you! Others need to be on the same path!

Thank you Drolefile for coming out!

I still have my 1st grade report card where my teacher said that I exist in "my own little world". I was the one who got good grades but daydreamed constantly. I still suffer from this and now I know why my college years were such a hard time for me.

I still exist in my own little world and will zone out in a minute. The motivator for me now is the fear of failure. That will snap me back into reality in no time.

I am still learning, understanding and teaching to the hyperactivity component of this daily in the classroom and at home. I find that these are the students who truly need the Individualized Education Plan. They work best on their own with guidance. It is extremely hard to have them engaged in a lesson with others, especially if the others are LD or MR.

I can honestly say that I do have problems with attention. But that's because some things just don't interest me! lol Like for instance, anything dealing with psychology, forensics, or the arts, I'm not all that interested. I can't say that if I'm sitting in a math class that the instructor will have my full attention. But I do blame that on myself because I sometimes have no discipline when it comes to school.

Re: A.d.h.d
 

I'm starting to think that ADHD is kind of like the newest syndrome: road rage disease - yes I heard on the news that it's an actual disease now.

Come on. I have trouble concentrating sometimes and daydream as well. However, I think that I'm probably just not disciplined enough. I have a question: if daydreaming is a sign of ADHD, then are those who have been diagnosed with ADHD able to maintain concentration on the daydream or there a skipping from one daydream to another? My daydreams are pretty much one long daydream until I come out of it and go back to whatever I'm doing. For that reason, I guess I feel like if I can concentrate enough to maintain a daydream then why can't I do that for work sometimes? I think that I'm more of a procrastinator than an ADHD-diagnosed person. Is it possible that some kids are just escaping to a world that is more palatable than their homework? I used to do it soemtimes. I usually daydream only when there is soemthing that I'm supposed to be doing that I don't want to do. For me it's a procrastination technique basically.


I think that some kids really do have trouble concentrating for biological reasons but I think that some of them just need to be disciplined and taught that they have to focus on and *complete* the task at hand before going on to something else. I also think that some of the parents are just feeding some of them too much sugar or not giving them the nutrients that they need or they are not getting enough sleep. I know a 2-year old that goes to bed at 9 at night. To me, that is too late but whatever floats the mother's boat. I know *I* have trouble concentrating when I do not get sleep so if this child was in school I wonder if she would have the same problem.

SC

I don't take my crazy pills unless I'm hanging around cool people. Otherwise, why do I need to behave myself? :confused:

Re: Re: A.d.h.d
 

That's why I think doctors need to stop calling this Attention Deficit Disorder. This is more of a condition about arousal than having a short attention span. A lot of people with ADD or ADHD not only pay too little attention, but sometimes they pay too much attention. It is called "hyperfocus". Some can go hours playing video games, particpating in sports, socializing, or surfing the internet. These kinds of activities give ADD people the stimulation they need. Sitting down working on something passive like homework may not be stimulating enough. The area of the brain effected by ADD is actually underactive, these people seek constant activity to compensate. Obviously paying too much attention can lead to as much, or more problems than not paying enough attention. The stimulation can be addicting and is very hard to pull away from. I'm not a doctor though, I hope I explained this correctly.

The daydreaming in ADD usually isn't voluntary. It just happens. When I drift off, I'm often unaware of it until a couple of minutes later or if someone tells me. I almost never have one long daydream either, it's more like one thought firing off after another, sometimes completely unrelated to each other. I probably had like seven or eight unrelated thoughts popping into my head while typing this post. Everyone daydreams, but it becomes a problem if you're not able to turn it off or control the direction.

The sugar=hyperactivity thing has been disproven for years.

But, I do agree that proper nutrition won't hurt, and in some cases may help.

Most ADD kids I've noticed have one or two "things" that they can focus on because it holds their attention competely. For me it's a book. Heaven help me if I'm trying to do something else and I pick up a book. Two hours later we might talk.

My computer might seem like a focus but in fact it is the ultimate distraction. I can skip around from GC to email to IM to games etc and never really settle in. In fact I get frustrated when GC isn't busy enough to keep me occupied.

My brother has a tendancy to run in circles around his room... well walk now because he's 16 and too big to run in his little room. But he can play video games for hours.


My big thing is doodling. Whether in class or at work if I have paper and pen there's a doodle or five going on. It actually helps me focus!

(BTW highly recommended for college/high school age students is silly putty. Often if you do something with your hands, providing just the right amount of distraction, you can focus better on the material that the teacher is presenting.)

Girl, you are too much.

On a serious note, my nephew has A.D.D. He was on ritalin, yet my sister took him off of it due to the change in his behavior. He is a very playful child. The medicine had him zoned out and not wanting to do anything active. It did have him doing better in school though. More discipline came into play once she removed him from the meds. He is still progressing fine in school.

I do not feel meds are always necessary. Especially due to horrible side effects that can affect ones health. My friends and I believe my roommate has A.D.H.D.