Normal kids=ADHD?

[jady]

You know, I am up in the air on this one. I have Tourettes Syndrome. It was pretty bad when I was younger and I was medicated with Haldol. Nasty stuff, I stopped taking it due to the side effects being much worse than the disease it was "helping".

But, I had the "what the hell is wrong with me?!?!?!" thoughts. I thought i was insane for a bit in high school because I couldn't do some simple things. I was definatley not "normal" as far as organizational skills, remembering things, and getting things done. It is a learning disorder. And needs to be treated as one.

However, I learned to deal with it not through medication but through knowing my limitations and working around them. It can be done. It is not fun but it works. Kids are most definately being over diagnosed and medicated. For every case that is legit there are hundreds that can be dealt with through one of Dis's suggestions or just sucking it up and working through it like I did.

 

[Pilgrim]

I think there's justification on both sides of this issue.

I don't disagree for a minute that WAY too many kids are diagnosed as ADHD when what they really need is a firmer hand, more attention and personal time, and perhaps an adult making an extra effort to give them a way to channel their energy.

OTOH, there's no question in my mind that there are kids with legitimate ADHD problems. They can benefit by being medicated lightly and appropriately, in situations where it helps them focus and keep their behavior at acceptable levels.

There is no single answer. Maybe 30-40 years ago when I was a kid we didn't know what we do now, nor did we have drugs that could offer these kids a way to help with legitimate problems. Instead, a lot of those kids either were ignored and passed along, or dropped out of school and became problems on the street.

I think the real problem is parents and doctors who take the easy way out. But as a parent myself, I know that there are times when an easier way out is VERRRRRRRRRRRRY tempting because of life's demands.

I'm not throwing the first stone either way.

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

...
Or is it that all the tools they had to command children were taken away by defensive parents who will sue at the sight of the smallest punishment ?

While this is definitely part of it but I think it's even broader than that.

Around here (California) it's darn near "criminal" to discipline your own child.

 

[Marlat]

They aren't looking to get rid of the excuse, they are looking to treat the symptoms. Which doesn't address the problem, which is what needs to be solved.

and you are 100% certain that the problem is?

 

[Lost Drummer]

and you are 100% certain that the problem is?

That the problem what?

could you rephrase the question?

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

I misstyped, I didnt mean why are people working on them, but why are people seeking them out. Ie if parents are looking for an excuse, why are they paying for the drugs to get rid of the excuse?

A lot of parents today are more concerned with advancing their own careers, keeping up with the Jones' and making the almighty dollar. So much so that Junior becomes an inconvenience, something to be "dealt with" rather than a human being that needs to be raised.

Folks have nannies, daycare shrinks and pills to raise their children for them now.

 

[Marlat]

That the problem what?

could you rephrase the question?

You said that the drugs address the symptoms and not the problem. What is the problem?

 

[Lost Drummer]

oh, ok. lack of discipline and respect.

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Sure, there are some kids that have a problem. If a few good years of punishment (whatever kind you like) don't fix it, head for a doctor.

I don't necessarily agree with punishing a child for "a few good years" before checking something with a doctor but that description matches a buddy of mine. The guys incredibly smart, good athlete (varsity hockey in college) and his grades were ok at best. All through his life he had massive problems with concentration. About 5 months ago he had a medical and described these problems to his doctor who referred him to a specialist. The specialist did testing for ADHD, which consisted of about 12 hours of testing spread over a week, and from what he tells me he scored incredibly high for ADHD. So high in fact that the doctor was very surprised at where he'd gotten to in his life. He's now on a medication for it and from what he says he has a night and day difference in concentration. He's never been able to make it through a whole novel in his life and now he seems to be ripping through all sorts of books. He's always coming to see me and tell me about some book that he read that I should check out. It's a pretty amazing difference. If you knew the guy before you could tell after talking to him for 5 minutes that something had changed.

 

[marcray]

I believe it's such a more individual family problem, with so many variables, that the generalizations being made here are a little rough... I've seen most of the situations described here and feel lucky that my daughter, as yet, doesn't display any of the symptoms. But again, it's very individual and personal to the families and we may be being a little insensitive.

As adults, we have so many social problems of our own that I feel we have to be very careful judging or simplifying this problem.

 

[Matthew Bryson]

I Check out this video and tell me what you think.

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/147.html

That video is over an hour and a half long!

My opinion, without giving up an hour and forty three minutes, is that ADHD is over diagnosed and kids are over medicated.

My 9 year old boy has energy, as do all nine year old boys. I had one teacher suggest he might be ADHD a few years back. I lost all respect for that teacher and ignored every word she spoke to me for the rest of the year. (because my boy is NOT ADHD - I'm not in denial, he's just not... I've known a lot of normal little boys - this boy is not hyper) The deal is that the teacher had to tell an 8 yer old to calm down and pay attention in class two times, so she wanted him on meds.... lazy teacher didn't want to do her job... and that's how a lot of these cases get started -IMHO

 

[hbarcat]

....why are people seeking them out. Ie if parents are looking for an excuse, why are they paying for the drugs to get rid of the excuse?

They see their kid acting up. They don't know what to do about it. Someone (teacher, doctor, neighbor, Oprah....) tells them they can fix the problem by putting the kid on a prescription medication. Done. The easy fix must be the correct solution to the problem.

Ask yourself why McDonalds is, by far, the most popular place to eat. Is it because the food is the best? Or maybe the best value? S---, no! It's because it's easy to eat there. It's easy to order; just roll down your car window and say into the speaker on a post, "I want a number two." It's easy to pay; just hand the teen with his hand out at the window a twenty dollar bill and you magically get the correct change back. It's easy to get your food; just snatch the white and yellow bag out of the hand of the teen at the next window on the way by. And it's easy to eat; just shove it into your mouth straight from the bag while you're driving, and two minutes later stuff the empty wrappers back in the bag and throw the bag in the back seat or out the window, whichever is easier. And after doing this three or four days a week, people then wonder why they're 30 lbs overweight and feel tired all the time, eventually concluding that it must be someone else's fault and hoping there's a pill they can take to make them feel better.

The standards have, indeed, changed. Most people opt for the quick and easy option, without considering if the more tedious method might be wiser.

Really, it's that simple.

 

[Nappa]

The cure to ADHD is going to church.


I attended a Greek Orthodox service nearly every Sunday of my life until college. A typical liturgy is at least 2 hours long. Greek church isn't like other churches, theres no singing, and SILENT prayers. If I was loud, my grandpa and my dad had me under control. If you are way loud, everyone in the church looks at you, the priest stops the service, and asks your family to leave.

I was never a very religious person but the shame on my dad if his kid got us kicked out was enough for me to suck it up and sit still and silent for 2 hours.



Sure, there are some kids that have a problem. If a few good years of punishment (whatever kind you like) don't fix it, head for a doctor.

What about those who cannot stand religion? Such as myself, what are we to do???

My brother was started on Ritalin when it came out, my parents were simple folk, worked hard for their family. When told that their child could be cured (so to say) from this ADHD with a simple pill after they tried everything from diet changed life changes; nothing worked, this cure well cured their anxiety towards their children's problem. My brother then became a meth addict..... so yeah.... he is sober now after a few years, i'm not totally sure how long it was. My hate towards ADHD over-prescribed drugs runs far, very far.

 

[NamelessOne]

well then...

I have a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome. Got it in grade 6 or so, and I agree with most of the criteria. One catch, though...

The psychologist first told my mother that I had ADD. She was certain that I didn't, as I displayed the classic Asperger's ability to concentrate completely and utterly on something, if it interested me. So, the psych looked a bit closer at the DSM, and decided that I had Asperger's.

So, it's not just the people that like "easiest" options... it's the people who define the syndromes that do too. It's a lot easier to hand out a prescription than to explain to a parent that they're the problem.

I'm also highly gifted, all that stuff... I seriously think of Asperger's syndrome not as a disorder, but something that simply makes me different, and often superior, to the general public. I'm definitely not normal...

I don't take any drugs, other than my morning coffee. If "they" came up with a wonder drug that made me normal, without any side effects, I wouldn't take it.

Sure I run into difficulties in school, but identifying the origin of these makes it a lot easier to overcome these. In elementry, before I was diagnosed, I was given an oddly traditional "discipline" policy, which did absolutely nothing. "discipline" isn't always the answer... understanding is.

Yeah, I think ADHD is vastly overdiagnosed. I also think that the people who should be the most worried about this are the people who actually have ADHD. The value of thier diagnosis is now diluted, and they can't get the recognition they need.

 

[disenchant]

Welcome to the Time Out generation. We don't want to discipline our children or teach them self control. We're just going to make them sit in a chair while we say "Little Timmy, why don't you tell me your feelings??"

My cousin did that with her bratty kid. Her kid didn't want to sit at the dinner table at a restaurant. She caused a big scene, throwing a tantrum and refusing to sit and instead of my cousin taking her out of the restaurant and saving us the screaming, she kept saying "Oh Ashley, tell me your feelings! Why don't you want to sit at the table?" When I was a kid I would have sat at the table because I was expected to.

Now they're claiming that their precious has ADHD. No, she's just a brat and has been from day one.

Don't get me wrong, there ARE children who do have good upbringings and still have ADHD symptoms. There are many causes to ADHD, but none of them need medication to fix.

 

[DrSmaggs]

I won't mention names, but I know three people... two my age that were on ADD/ADHD drugs and all three went crazy and either beat up or shot people.

One case was a guy my age that literally beat the **** out of his mailman, because the voiced in his head told him to.

Fortunately, the mailman didn't sue the crap out of him...

he uses his SSI check every month to buy shooter games for PS2 and PC and he has a small collection of hand guns.

needless to say, I don't live within 2000 miles of him anymore

 

[wdinc01]

I actually watched that movie. Or at least, three minutes of it. And then Michael Moore came...

Well, I pretty much agree with everyone. Kids being kids do not need drugs, they need to get outside to play! Funny I should be saying that, because I usually wanted to stay inside and watch TV or play video games. But my brother or my friend would usually drag me out, so it's all good. I had imagination. And I'll encourage the same from my kids.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

A lot of parents today are more concerned with advancing their own careers, keeping up with the Jones' and making the almighty dollar. So much so that Junior becomes an inconvenience, something to be "dealt with" rather than a human being that needs to be raised.

Folks have nannies, daycare shrinks and pills to raise their children for them now.

Werd!! +1 Nowadays parents give "there mothers little helper" to the kids instead of taking it themselves



dis,

I wish my parents gave me a timeout. If I was acting up, POW!! Never even saw it coming. That snapped me back into behaving real quick !!

 

[Jazz Ad]

There are many causes to ADHD, but none of them need medication to fix.

And you learnt that where ?
I'm really curious and willing to hear from you, since after going through dozens of books, various doctors, sophrologists, psychologists, therapists, psychomotricians and so on, nobody seems to be able to understand the causes of ADHD.

 

[Ben B]

I'm going to disagree with, well, just about everyone.

Just because there are a lot of brats out there and parents who lack child rearing skills doesn't mean ADHD doesn't exist. It may be over-diagnosed. I'm not sure.

But ADHD is a real medical condition. It is some kind of depression of certain areas in the brain. And it is treatable with the proper medication. Notice I say treatable, not curable.

Many people believe this medicine is a depressant used to make kids into zombies, so, they quit acting hyper. Wrong. It's the opposite. The drugs are a stimulant used to "wake-up" the depressed area of the brain.

Think about it... you give a stimulant to a kid who's a brat, they will be MORE hyper and probably act worse. If you give a stimulant to a kid and it calms him down, he's probably got ADHD.

As for some poster's statement about someone they know who had ADHD becoming a meth addict, I believe it. I suspect people with ADHD are more likely to get hooked on meth because it calms them down--well, at first--until they start taking too much. Then the trouble starts.

I don't believe there are many causes of ADHD. From things I've read by legitimate sources, it is likely a genetic condition, not environmental.

Okay, bring on the flaming.

ben