Comments on: ADHD – A Convenient Excuse?

By: Maggie Badior

Maggie Badior — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:54:19 +0000

I am a 48 year old woman with ADHD. I think it is probably over-diagnosed, but for children and adults whose lives are severely affected by it, Ritalin can make a huge difference. The hyperactivity component is more common in boys, but girls can have it too, so it’s not just a case of “boys being boys”. Excess energy in a person with ADHD cannot be used up by playing outside – I was born in 1961 and spent my childhood playing, but was still hyper. ADHD has been around and known about since the early 1900s, it was just called different names. The most important thing to me is that parents or doctors or authors without ADHD should really be listening to adults with ADHD before they make broad statements about it.
Ritalin and other stimulant drugs are best described as similar to wearing glasses. I wear glasses and take Dexedrine. When I put my glasses on, I see more clearly, and when I take Dexedrine or Ritalin my mind feels more clear.

By: CS Tan

CS Tan — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:17:22 +0000

The biggest problem with ADHD is that despite relatively intensive research done on it, the real cause/s remains a mystery. That has given rise to many myths about this neurobiological disorder. It’s no wonder then that some parents believe ADHD does not exists.

But personally, I think refusing to believe that ADHD exist is going to do more harm to children. The risks are simply too great to ignore.

I do not agree that ADHD is something which sprung up from modern day lifestyle which is essentially a wired-world. This is because ADHD has been around for generations, only that the medical faculty did not put a “name” on it, that’s all.

By: steph

steph — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:07:11 +0000

uneducated people say adhd is an excuse yes sociological disadvantage prevails the rate however it still exhists and can be seen through the generations

By: daneka

daneka — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:29:06 +0000

I really feel it should be up to the parent id they dont want the meds then they should be able to say no to drugs also I dont want my child labled in his school records

By: Little Mummy

Little Mummy — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:13:54 +0000

Thanks for your viewpoint Amy, there seems to be a real split of opinions on the subject.

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:05:40 +0000

Read the actual diagnostic criteria in DSM and you will get a different picture. Fidgety behavior is only one part of ADHD and not necessary for a diagnosis. A quiet, “spacy” girl can have ADHD as easily as a hyperactive boy.
Each child is different, but I think in many cases medication cuts down on a lot of unnecessary trauma.
Daneka- What? If needing a mind altering drug disqualified one from serving in the army we wouldn’t have many people left in the army, considering how many people are on antidepressants. And I would think that if there was such a conspiracy it would be aimed at getting people *in* the military, not vice versa!

By: steph

steph — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:42:49 +0000

i am a parent of a child with adhd and i myself have adhd. I know it exhists through personal experience of coping with the condition as a child and adult. When i was young you werent diagnosed just naughty but i struggled to concentrate i was impulsive i was a very unhappy child as a result as i would get upset with myself and get punished. I ended up in care as a result as i put my parents through the mill it drove a wedge because it was misunderstood. It appears a disability that is severly discriminated against and mis-understood. I hope one day it will be accepted and the correct support other than medication will be provided this includes the negative veiws depicted within society.

By: John

John — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 00:15:35 +0000

I have an acquaintance with a family in which both boys, ages 10 and 12, have been diagnosed with ADHD. One boy is hyperactive and rude, transgressive and wilful, the other boy seems less so. Interesting to note, the elder boy’s behaviour worsened considerably after his brother was diagnosed.

Subsequently (and absurdly, IMHO) the mother diagnosed herself with ADD.

So it seems that something was a few standard deviations outside the normal range of brain chemistry with the younger boy, but the other child, and now the mother, appear to me to be neurotically hopping on the bandwagon, as it were. Now, neurosis can be a problem, of course, but not one that should be treated with ritalin.

Studies that showed overdiagnosis in specific communities show similar bandwagon effects. ADHD can be attention-seeking, low self-esteem, ie, many other neurotic problems, espec. when a sibling has a “get of jail free” card for poor behaviour. It’s important therefore to insist on personal responsibility and consequences for *all* behaviours, included ADHD ascribed tantrums, impulsivity.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 02:44:12 +0000

Little Mummy, thanks so much! I’ve been teaching for a little over 9 years. Right now I teach preschool but I’ve taught K-8 as well.

By: Little Mummy

Little Mummy — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 07:59:49 +0000

Chris, just discovered your blog, LOVE the topic have subscribed already! How long have you been a teacher?