ADD & ADHD: Epidemic of a Phantom Disease

[Angstrom]

Bottom line for me with ADD&ADHD is,
the kids need to develop coping mechanism to help them be functional.
Hyper-concentration is well known.

Using drugs will not help kids develop coping mechanism.
So why even bother wasting your time with it?

Don't they have to stop using Ritalin after 18?
So all those years he could be developing skills to cope,
you give him a drug that dos the work for him &
Then at 18 you to take it away?

This makes Zero Common sense to me.

 

[Cliffy]

Many school boards have tame doctors on staff. It is all about making life easier for teachers not about education.

And people wonder why drugs are such a problem on the street. We have created a generation of dug addicts in our school system, but although they say it is because they have emotional and behavioral problems, I think it has far more to do with dumbing down the population. A George Carlin said, the last thing the government wants is a well educated population capable of critical thought. And I don't think he was talking about the bozos who we elect to pretend we have a democracy.

 

[Sal]

it's not as "simple" as making it easier for teachers...you have to look at the bigger picture. If a teacher has 3 hyper kids in their classroom and they are your children, your attitude will be "cope" with it. If they are not, you are gonna be some pissed off because he won't be teaching YOUR kid he will be dealing with behaviour issues all day. And gawd forbid if that teacher consequences in a manner that parents don't agree with.

it's like the integration system where all high needs kids are in the school...lovely idea when it's your kid...but they have either an EA with them all day (23.00 an hour) or if they have violent tendencies they have a Child and Youth Worker with them all day at $30.00 an hour. Sometimes they kick holes in walls and scream all day.

It's lovely. But teachers get blamed for everything with little knowledge from the public about the actual environment in today's world and the pressure they are under to "make them produce" test scores.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

We really should autolock topics after some period of time with no replies. It feels like 2005 all over again!

We have a kid who was diagnosed with ADHD. We have tried several drugs but found them all unsatisfactory due to side effects which are worse than the symptoms of the ADHD we were trying to address. In our case, my son had the attention deficit but was not hyperactive.

 

[Angstrom]

I myself was diagnosed with ADD, & my parents where told I would never be functional.
I was prescribed Ritalin but my father refused to give it to me.

If they added Hyper-concentration at the special Olympics.
I'd win gold.

Lol

 

[Sal]

We really should autolock topics after some period of time with no replies. It feels like 2005 all over again!

We have a kid who was diagnosed with ADHD. We have tried several drugs but found them all unsatisfactory due to side effects which are worse than the symptoms of the ADHD we were trying to address. In our case, my son had the attention deficit but was not hyperactive.

why should we auto lock if people are still interested enough in the topic to post..you just posted...lol

 

[gerryh]

Bottom line for me with ADD&ADHD is,
the kids need to develop coping mechanism to help them be functional.
Hyper-concentration is well known.

Using drugs will not help kids develop coping mechanism.
So why even bother wasting your time with it?

Don't they have to stop using Ritalin after 18?
So all those years he could be developing skills to cope,
you give him a drug that dos the work for him &
Then at 18 you to take it away?

This makes Zero Common sense to me.

I have a Brother-in-law who is 50, ADD and on Ritalin. So, no, one does not get "cut off" when one turns 18.

What concerns me is when teachers and schools make unqualified decisions about children, then harass the parent into putting their child on drugs. A doctor should be the only person qualified to make that recommendation to a parent that is struggling to make a decision about their child. Educational professionals think they are doing a good thing, but just like not making the diagnosis, they should not be making any recommendations as well.

Considering the types of drugs being used to help children with ADD/ADHD, the only ones diagnosing should be Child Psychiatrist specialists. No MD's, no psychologists, and definitely not any teachers or administrators.

There are FAR too many diagnosis of ADD/ADHD when in actual fact the kid is not AD(H)D.

 

[Sal]

I have a Brother-in-law who is 50, ADD and on Ritalin. So, no, one does not get "cut off" when one turns 18.





Considering the types of drugs being used to help children with ADD/ADHD, the only ones diagnosing should be Child Psychiatrist specialists. No MD's, no psychologists, and definitely not any teachers or administrators.

There are FAR too many diagnosis of ADD/ADHD when in actual fact the kid is not AD(H)D.

exactly... and it is a lot of work to follow through and ensure that child gets the help they need...just know of one kid placed on drugs a few weeks ago...should have been done six years ago...what a change...he is speaking now, and toileting...wow...exciting and he knows it...he knows he is feeling better

 

[gerryh]

exactly... and it is a lot of work to follow through and ensure that child gets the help they need...just know of one kid placed on drugs a few weeks ago...should have been done six years ago...what a change...he is speaking now, and toileting...wow...exciting and he knows it...he knows he is feeling better

and just for the record, as it has been quite a few years since I "discussed" this topic, my 2 oldest are ADD/ADHD and were "required" to be on Ritalin. Both my wife and I are against "drugging" a child to get them to "fit the mold". I told both my boys that the ADD might be a reason for a behavior but that it was never an excuse. They have "learned" how to deal with their "problem" and have done quite well.

 

[Sal]

and just for the record, as it has been quite a few years since I "discussed" this topic, my 2 oldest are ADD/ADHD and were "required" to be on Ritalin. Both my wife and I are against "drugging" a child to get them to "fit the mold". I told both my boys that the ADD might be a reason for a behavior but that it was never an excuse. They have "learned" how to deal with their "problem" and have done quite well.

awesome... i agree not every kid needs drugs, it's a matter of quality of life and improvement not just behavioral control

 

[L Gilbert]

Funny thread as usual, Stretch.
FYI: "A disease is an impairment of the normal state of the living animal or plant body or one of its parts that interrupts or modifies the performance of the vital functions, is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms, and is a response to environmental factors (as malnutrition, industrial hazards, or climate), to specific infective agents (as worms, bacteria, or viruses), to inherent defects of the organism (as genetic anomalies), or to combinations of these factors. The cause or causes of which are known."

"A syndrome is the association of several clinically recognizable features, signs, symptoms, phenomena or characteristics which often occur together, so that the presence of one feature alerts to the presence of the others. In recent decades the term has been used outside of medicine to refer to a combination of phenomena seen in association."

"A disorder is an abnormal physical or mental condition."

The above definitions are from disease, disorder, or syndrome? - Genetics

So, you are right, ADHD, ADD, are non-existent diseases........ they are DISORDERS.

 

[petros]

There are FAR too many diagnosis of ADD/ADHD when in actual fact the kid is not AD(H)D.

AMEN! gerryh AMEN!

After the lunch programs started locally, grades skyrocketed, outbursts slowed, and depression dropped for the inner city kids.

Why place malnourished kids on synthetic cocaine when all they need is a sammich?

 

[The Old Medic]

Of course, the source of this propaganda is not a Medical publication. It posts opinions that do not stand up to scrutiny.

It's a real shame that people actually believe this garbage.

 

[Stretch]

it's about the phuking dollar!!!!

 

[karrie]

it's about the phuking dollar!!!!

*slow clap*

Great come back. Incredible way to support your point.

Keep up the good work.