Are there more kids with ADHD or are they just diagnosing more kids with ADHD?

/dnrtfa

Done in one!

In other news, sales of Ritalin increase 24% in last decade.

BAMFinator: Are there more kids with ADHD or are they just diagnosing more kids with ADHD?

/dnrtfa

This

/Some teacher prefer your kids doped up, it makes the doped up teachers day easier

ADHD sells pills. It's a boom time for the pharmaceutical multi-national conglomerates.

The article says "diagnosed with ADHD", not that there are that many mor kids who actually have it.

/kids weren't made to sit at a desk 8 hours a day with no recess and a 15 minute lunch break

ADHD - Made up by the drug companies, for the drug companies.

greenbowlpacker: ADHD - Made up by the drug companies, for the drug companies.

As someone who was given Ritalin as a kid and told he had ADD, I agree with this statement.

Sure, the drug helps kids do better in school, but at what price?

Also, it should be noted that the drug would help ANYONE do better at school.

So discipline has slipped another 24%, great.

bborchar: The article says "diagnosed with ADHD", not that there are that many mor kids who actually have it.

/kids weren't made to sit at a desk 8 hours a day with no recess and a 15 minute lunch break

Kids still have recess, and gym class where I am from. What kids weren't meant to do, is watch TV and play video games all day long on their time off. They should be playing, all the time. No such thing as ADHD, only kids who are play deprived and have no discipline.

ADHD sells pills. It's a boom time for the pharmaceutical multi-national conglomerates.

The only way to treat a kid with ADHD, is to diagnose a kid with ADHD.

"ADHD" is something made up by doctors to placate parents who are no longer allowed to punish their kids because the law says it's illegal. If we were still allowed to smack a kid once in a while when they did something really bad, they wouldn't be the unholy terrors you see that get labelled with this imaginary syndrome. As for the *rare* few that may actually be legitimately affected by something, it's more likely to be some kind of brain damage causing it.

csnake24: "ADHD" is something made up by doctors to placate parents who are no longer allowed to punish their kids because the law says it's illegal. If we were still allowed to smack a kid once in a while when they did something really bad, they wouldn't be the unholy terrors you see that get labelled with this imaginary syndrome. As for the *rare* few that may actually be legitimately affected by something, it's more likely to be some kind of brain damage causing it.

THIS

Glockenspiel Hero: Sigh- I see the trolls are out in force.

As a parent to a severely ADHD kid, let me just say
1) It's real
2) It's a condition you're born with: it's not caused by (junk food|too much TV|Dr. Spock parenting|etc)
3) The drugs are a requirement to function: we'd much rather he never have to take another one.

You may now continue with your trolling

bborchar: The article says "diagnosed with ADHD", not that there are that many mor kids who actually have it.

/kids weren't made to sit at a desk 8 hours a day with no recess and a 15 minute lunch break

Uphill both ways....yada yada yada.

I can remember in the early 90's getting 2 recesses and getting out at 2pm on Friday....at a Catholic school...

/csb

csnake24: "ADHD" is something made up by doctors to placate parents who are no longer allowed to punish their kids because the law says it's illegal. If we were still allowed to smack a kid once in a while when they did something really bad, they wouldn't be the unholy terrors you see that get labelled with this imaginary syndrome. As for the *rare* few that may actually be legitimately affected by something, it's more likely to be some kind of brain damage causing it.

1/10

You get the one because I responded.

Glockenspiel Hero: Sigh- I see the trolls are out in force.

As a parenttroll to a severely ADHD kid, let me just say
1) It's real
2) It's a condition you're born with: it's not caused by (junk food|too much TV|Dr. Spock parenting|etc)
3) The drugs are a requirement to function: we'd much rather he never have to take another one.

You may now continue with your trolling

ADHD doesn't always mean bouncing off the wall. The impression that all ADHD kids are balls of youthful energy is a fallacy that hurts many of those kids as they reach into adulthood. Is it over diagnosed? For those kids who are full of energy and youthful exhuberene and defiance, absolutely. But don't think for a secodn that it isn't real and that it is a function of doing what you enjoy doing.

I cannot speak for all of us unlucky ones who have ADHD as adults but unmedicated I have a hard time paying attention to ANYTHING. As in I have gotten lost in the maze of my own mind in the midst of doing pleasureable activities such as having sex, playing video games, hanging out with friends. So to me at least it is not a function of doing something that I am not interested in... it is well and truly an inability to focus.

The simple fear of living in a trailer house when I grew up cured my ADHD.

bborchar: The article says "diagnosed with ADHD", not that there are that many mor kids who actually have it.

/kids weren't made to sit at a desk 8 hours a day with no recess and a 15 minute lunch break

Sir Ken Robinson has a great video about this.

Ishkur: Kids shouldn't be using performance enhancing drugs.

It's like our classrooms are full of Lance Armstrongs.

bunch of nuts they are

How many kids with ADHD does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

Wanna go ride bikes???

I think the whole "bunny rabbit" and "something shiny" joke has really, really run its course.

doczoidberg: greenbowlpacker: ADHD - Made up by the drug companies, for the drug companies.

As someone who was given Ritalin as a kid and told he had ADD, I agree with this statement.

Sure, the drug helps kids do better in school, but at what price?

Also, it should be noted that the drug would help ANYONE do better at school.

From what I understand, if you do not need the medication, it is just like taking speed. So basically, instead of helping you concentrate, you will be climbing the walls if you take ADHD meds like Ritalin and do not actually need them.

It's not a "disorder"; it's just the natural way some people are.

Glockenspiel Hero: Sigh- I see the trolls are out in force.

As a parent to a severely ADHD kid, let me just say
1) It's real
2) It's a condition you're born with: it's not caused by (junk food|too much TV|Dr. Spock parenting|etc)
3) The drugs are a requirement to function: we'd much rather he never have to take another one.

You may now continue with your trolling

There are kids who truly have it...but over 3% of all children? That's ridiculously high. Most of the kids "diagnosed" are done so by teachers...and there's not enough arguing by the doctors who dole out the medications. We also didn't have this issue decades ago. We just said that some kids weren't cut out for school, and gave them other options (trade work, etc). Now society has labeled people without college degrees as failures, which is dumb. This problem is more of a manufactured problem of our society (humans were not made to sit inside all day long, working on computers) than it is a real medical crisis. My b-i-l was diagnosed with ADHD and took medication while he was young. He graduated high school, and now he works in a factory (making more money than his college educated brother). People label this a "lowly" job, but he likes it more than he'd ever like working in an office.

There isn't any dispute that there are real cases of ADHD. However, a lot of doctors view this as a revenue stream. If a doctor diagnoses a child with ADHD, he is guaranteed repeated office visits.

I know it's purely anecdotal, but a couple teachers I know have figured out that students whose parent's insurance covers the treatment or children who are on Medicaid are a lot more prone to have ADHD than children who don't have insurance coverage. Has anyone ever done a study on that aspect?

Glockenspiel Hero: Sigh- I see the trolls are out in force.

As a parent to a severely ADHD kid, let me just say
1) It's real
2) It's a condition you're born with: it's not caused by (junk food|too much TV|Dr. Spock parenting|etc)
3) The drugs are a requirement to function: we'd much rather he never have to take another one.

You may now continue with your trolling

I agree and I will also add that if you need the ADHD meds, they benefit you simply by allowing you as the parent to help your ADHD child see and understand what it is like to be a normal functioning human being. Something that is MUCH harder ad sometimes damn near impossible to get them to understand without the meds BECAUSE they cannot focus long enough for you to get the point across.

Glockenspiel Hero: Sigh- I see the trolls are out in force.

As a parent to a severely ADHD kid, let me just say
1) It's real
2) It's a condition you're born with: it's not caused by (junk food|too much TV|Dr. Spock parenting|etc)
3) The drugs are a requirement to function: we'd much rather he never have to take another one.

You may now continue with your trolling

You are the exception, not the rule. For every parent with a kid like yours, there's 500 others that have a case of sitting in front of a tv too long.

doczoidberg: It's not a "disorder"; it's just the natural way some people are.

Some people are natural sociopaths, too.

They can get pretty disorderly.

I had to stop taking my medication (Adderall). The side effects are AWFUL and the pills are really addictive. ADD meds are basically pharmaceutical grade speed, with the comedown to boot.

Breakouts and some of the worst insomnia I've had in my life. Ugh.

ManOfTeal: From what I understand, if you do not need the medication, it is just like taking speed. So basically, instead of helping you concentrate, you will be climbing the walls if you take ADHD meds like Ritalin and do not actually need them.


If that's the case, then why do so many college kids abuse illegally-obtained Ritalin to help them study?

Why do so many parents dip into their child's pill supply to help them get through the day?

When I had a prescription for Ritalin (in high school and college some years back), I abused the fark out of it. Took twice my prescribed dosage most days. I'd breeze through my homework, read a book, and then get drunk and surf porn all night, high as a kite on the pills. I'd go to classes the next day with three or four hours of sleep, tops.

Then I'd run out of pills about two weeks earlier than they'd let me have a refill. I'd crash for a few days, being unable to do much else than sleep. After about a week of that, I'd feel better.

Then, the cycle would repeat itself. It went on for years. Truth told, I kind of miss it.

When my daughter was in third grade she started flunking everything. She couldn't read a paragraph and tell you what she just read. Every night I struggled to help her with her homework, she just couldn't get it. Anything she did in class she automatically failed. The thing is, she was (is) the best kid ever. Not a discipline problem, super smart, but she couldn't complete a task if you gave her a million bucks. It went on like that until the middle of 6th grade, I was tearing my hair out every night trying to help her pass her classes. I decided I needed to do something. I did some research on the Internet, I looked up ADD/ADHD, every symptom they listed was a symptom my daughter exhibited. It was like a lightbulb went off.

I took her to a recommended psychologist in Tulsa. They performed a battery of tests. It took an entire day. When the report came back I wasn't surprised to see that she had ADHD, in her case she really didn't have the HD component so it was somewhat masked. It was determined that she learned best by listening, not reading, but she was so easily distracted that anyone tapping a pencil or shuffling their feet would destroy her concentration.

We took her to her pediatrician and get her started on Concerta. It changed her life and ours. I say that our real daughter emerged when she started her medication. We could have a conversation with her! She could do her homework, take notes, all on her own! It was a revelation!

She's now a sophomore, honor student with a 4.0, is an all-star basketball and softball player, and wants to be a pediatrician.

I never believed in this ADHD stuff, but I'm a believer now!

/sorry for the wall of text
/Csb?

DON.MAC: Isn't ADHD a result from the dopamine rush from instant gratification in early life with all the cool new toys and stuff?

It's actually the decreased levels of Dopamine in your brain that are associated with ADHD. The medications, like Ritalin, are designed to regulate the level of Dopamine in your brain so people can learn to cope and focus.

Glockenspiel Hero: Sigh- I see the trolls are out in force.

As a parent to a severely ADHD kid, let me just say
1) It's real
2) It's a condition you're born with: it's not caused by (junk food|too much TV|Dr. Spock parenting|etc)
3) The drugs are a requirement to function: we'd much rather he never have to take another one.

You may now continue with your trolling

As another parent of a severe ADD kid I'd also like to add that there are two types of ADD, hyperactive and inattentive, so the nonsense concept of punishing kids more because they'll stop acting out is stupid. My daughter is better behaved than most of her non-ADD classmates because she's more than happy to sit quietly at her desk, doodle and daydream all day, her brain flitting from one thought to the next. In fact, her excellent behavior is part of why we have such a hard time getting the school to up the discipline for her. Why would they discipline a good kid, even if she is sitting there learning nothing?

We've requested anytime she's excessively off task or not doing her assignments that she is immediately sent to in-school suspension (where it's quiet and she can actually FOCUS) and they're reluctant to do even that.

doczoidberg: ManOfTeal: From what I understand, if you do not need the medication, it is just like taking speed. So basically, instead of helping you concentrate, you will be climbing the walls if you take ADHD meds like Ritalin and do not actually need them.


If that's the case, then why do so many college kids abuse illegally-obtained Ritalin to help them study?

Why do so many parents dip into their child's pill supply to help them get through the day?

When I had a prescription for Ritalin (in high school and college some years back), I abused the fark out of it. Took twice my prescribed dosage most days. I'd breeze through my homework, read a book, and then get drunk and surf porn all night, high as a kite on the pills. I'd go to classes the next day with three or four hours of sleep, tops.

Then I'd run out of pills about two weeks earlier than they'd let me have a refill. I'd crash for a few days, being unable to do much else than sleep. After about a week of that, I'd feel better.

Then, the cycle would repeat itself. It went on for years. Truth told, I kind of miss it.

You pretty much answered your own question. But I will summarize. If you had ready access to something (highly addictive) that would let you stay awake and alert and get things done would you not want to take advantage of it. In this case of course it would be considered prescription drug abuse, but whatever blows your hair back.

One big reason for the uptick in diagnoses is that schools won't take action to help unless they can get a diagnosis. With a diagnosis they can take different disciplinary action, add time for tests, etc.

Mostly it's the moms - they want the Ritalin for themselves.

SuperSally: Glockenspiel Hero: Sigh- I see the trolls are out in force.

As a parent to a severely ADHD kid, let me just say
1) It's real
2) It's a condition you're born with: it's not caused by (junk food|too much TV|Dr. Spock parenting|etc)
3) The drugs are a requirement to function: we'd much rather he never have to take another one.

You may now continue with your trolling

As another parent of a severe ADD kid I'd also like to add that there are two types of ADD, hyperactive and inattentive, so the nonsense concept of punishing kids more because they'll stop acting out is stupid. My daughter is better behaved than most of her non-ADD classmates because she's more than happy to sit quietly at her desk, doodle and daydream all day, her brain flitting from one thought to the next. In fact, her excellent behavior is part of why we have such a hard time getting the school to up the discipline for her. Why would they discipline a good kid, even if she is sitting there learning nothing?

We've requested anytime she's excessively off task or not doing her assignments that she is immediately sent to in-school suspension (where it's quiet and she can actually FOCUS) and they're reluctant to do even that.

I, myself, have ADD without the Hyperactivity. My son, on the other hand, has full ADHD.

I know exactly what you are talking about. It's the difference between what schools designate as behavior disordered, and learning disabled. Your daughter, like me, is not behavior disordered, and it is difficult for them to pinpoint and classify her as learning disabled, so you have a hard time convincing the school that a little bit of medicine would benefit her. My mother had to fight this when we moved and I attended a new school. They had never seen ADD without hyperactivity, it's still extremely rare, so they were reluctant to allow me to take my meds. Finally, after my grades suffered significantly the school relented and allowed her to put me on the meds.....Boy were they in shock when all of the sudden my grades skyrocketed.

Keep fighting the good fight.

TheGreatGazoo: I was diagnosed with ADD and put on Dexedrine. The pediatrician I had would basically bump up the prescription every time my mom asked (pretty much every visit). Every time that happened I would be up for a week. Well, I might finally fall asleep at 5 am, then have to get up at 6 am. Then they wondered why I couldn't pay attention. Gee, really?

Funny how when another doctor freaked out at the dose I was on and after 4 months of weaning me off of it under the supervision of a neurologist I managed to get two engineering degrees.

So uh, how many decades of pills are we talking here?

DON.MAC: steverockson: I took her to a recommended psychologist in Tulsa. They performed a battery of tests. It took an entire day. When the report came back I wasn't surprised to see that she had ADHD, in her case she really didn't have the HD component so it was somewhat masked. It was determined that she learned best by listening, not reading, but she was so easily distracted that anyone tapping a pencil or shuffling their feet would destroy her concentration.

Did the same thing (except it may have been at Moore) in 1977 or so.  I don't think ADHD was there at the time. My mother loved having a label and my father said I was a geek (in different words) and decided to fill in the educational gaps and I was building my own computers from scratch a few years later.  I am still a geek.

You got tested way back in 1977? Wow, I didn't even realize they knew about it back then. I guess the meds are a new development though.

You can collect SSID Social Security Disability for ADHD.

I wonder if that influences some people to get their kids diagnosed with ADHD so they can collect $$$.


*No offense to anyone who really does have ADHD and collects SSID.

Eventually another study follows with "Number of adults thinking their kids have adhd, and bringing them to be medicated jumps by 18 percent"

I am Wee Todd Ed: You can collect SSID Social Security Disability for ADHD.

I wonder if that influences some people to get their kids diagnosed with ADHD so they can collect $$$.


*No offense to anyone who really does have ADHD and collects SSID.

I did not know this, interesting. I would never take advantage of this unless I absolutely had to.

ManOfTeal: doczoidberg: greenbowlpacker: ADHD - Made up by the drug companies, for the drug companies.

As someone who was given Ritalin as a kid and told he had ADD, I agree with this statement.

Sure, the drug helps kids do better in school, but at what price?

Also, it should be noted that the drug would help ANYONE do better at school.

From what I understand, if you do not need the medication, it is just like taking speed. So basically, instead of helping you concentrate, you will be climbing the walls if you take ADHD meds like Ritalin and do not actually need them.

You are correct. ADD medication is a stimulant. If you give it to someone who does not have ADD it they bounce off the walls. People who aren't treated often self medicate with large amounts of coffee, nicotine, illegal drugs. They believe their is a genetic connection, I have several family members who have it. Cried myself to sleep the day my daughter was diagnosed (though I had suspected for a while). It's not made up and people who want to medicate their kids to fix disapline problems don't understand the diagnosis. Who the hell would wish that on their kid.

steverockson: When the report came back I wasn't surprised to see that she had ADHD, in her case she really didn't have the HD component so it was somewhat masked. It was determined that she learned best by listening, not reading, but she was so easily distracted that anyone tapping a pencil or shuffling their feet would destroy her concentration.

Everyone talks about ADHD because, according to the textbook I have on learning disabilities, only about 5% of cases are pure ADD. You daughter reminds me very much of my SO; extremely intelligent but has a hard time concentrating on tasks for long enough to complete them. Medications were not useful for him so he learned coping mechanisms. He struggled through college and got through a year of University. He picked a profession suited to his skillset and does very well for himself. He was told that by a third grade teacher that he would never amount to anything. Heh...

I am very happy to hear that Concerta worked for your daughter; it was an unmitigated disaster for his little brother.

DON.MAC: steverockson: I took her to a recommended psychologist in Tulsa. They performed a battery of tests. It took an entire day. When the report came back I wasn't surprised to see that she had ADHD, in her case she really didn't have the HD component so it was somewhat masked. It was determined that she learned best by listening, not reading, but she was so easily distracted that anyone tapping a pencil or shuffling their feet would destroy her concentration.

Did the same thing (except it may have been at Moore) in 1977 or so.  I don't think ADHD was there at the time. My mother loved having a label and my father said I was a geek (in different words) and decided to fill in the educational gaps and I was building my own computers from scratch a few years later.  I am still a geek.

Yeah. A lot of moms are like this.

They just GOTTA identify their child as "ADD Johnny," or whatever.

I wonder how much damage that does for the kid's self esteem. HE'S never to blame for his faults; it's always the ADD that's holding him back. Also, HE'S never to blame for his successes; it's the DRUG that helped him!

Ishkur: Kids shouldn't be using performance enhancing drugs.

It's like our classrooms are full of Lance Armstrongs.

Half the balls of when we were kids, amirite?

/lawn: off it.

I am Wee Todd Ed: You can collect SSID Social Security Disability for ADHD.

I wonder if that influences some people to get their kids diagnosed with ADHD so they can collect $$$.


*No offense to anyone who really does have ADHD and collects SSID.

I wonder if you need to be tested or if you can just have some random doctor say you have it. When my daughter was diagnosed she underwent a battery of tests that generated a near 20 page report.

cyberbenali: steverockson: When the report came back I wasn't surprised to see that she had ADHD, in her case she really didn't have the HD component so it was somewhat masked. It was determined that she learned best by listening, not reading, but she was so easily distracted that anyone tapping a pencil or shuffling their feet would destroy her concentration.

Everyone talks about ADHD because, according to the textbook I have on learning disabilities, only about 5% of cases are pure ADD. You daughter reminds me very much of my SO; extremely intelligent but has a hard time concentrating on tasks for long enough to complete them. Medications were not useful for him so he learned coping mechanisms. He struggled through college and got through a year of University. He picked a profession suited to his skillset and does very well for himself. He was told that by a third grade teacher that he would never amount to anything. Heh...

I am very happy to hear that Concerta worked for your daughter; it was an unmitigated disaster for his little brother.

I'm very thankful for that too, we were at our wits end. Unfortunately the meds aren't for everyone.

I remember when they used to just call it "hyper-active"

/Cant wait for spring to work on my lawn

DON.MAC: steverockson: You got tested way back in 1977? Wow, I didn't even realize they knew about it back then. I guess the meds are a new development though.

Um no.  They had it then too.  After a few head aches and the cat hissing after smelling the pills, I refused to take anything else.
There were several reattempts to provide drugs which were not fun or useful.
But I didn't graduate college so I'm not a poster child of that solution... but I was in the PhD program when I took a massive contract away from the university and started my own company.

Nice! Unfortunately the meds don't work for everyone.

DON.MAC: doczoidberg: Yeah. A lot of moms are like this.

They just GOTTA identify their child as "ADD Johnny," or whatever.

I wonder how much damage that does for the kid's self esteem. HE'S never to blame for his faults; it's always the ADD that's holding him back. Also, HE'S never to blame for his successes; it's the DRUG that helped him!

I think it is "Munchenhausen Syndrome by Proxy".
My mother was a nurse which means my ADHD diagnosis ratio goes way up. Add in an engineering father and I didn't even need to talk to a doc to get that label.

We're very careful about "labeling" our daughter, very few people know about it, and the school sure as hell doesn't know, I doubt they would be helpful and we don't want her stigmatized.

dragyne: ADHD doesn't always mean bouncing off the wall. The impression that all ADHD kids are balls of youthful energy is a fallacy that hurts many of those kids as they reach into adulthood. Is it over diagnosed? For those kids who are full of energy and youthful exhuberene and defiance, absolutely. But don't think for a secodn that it isn't real and that it is a function of doing what you enjoy doing.

I cannot speak for all of us unlucky ones who have ADHD as adults but unmedicated I have a hard time paying attention to ANYTHING. As in I have gotten lost in the maze of my own mind in the midst of doing pleasureable activities such as having sex, playing video games, hanging out with friends. So to me at least it is not a function of doing something that I am not interested in... it is well and truly an inability to focus.

Train yourself. Meditation. Thai chi. Chai tea. Even chemical imbalances can be mitigated or overcome through active focusing techniques.

Cythraul: cyberbenali: He was told that by a third grade teacher that he would never amount to anything. Heh...

What kind of teacher does that? I had my fair share of asshole teachers as a kid, but none of them ever told me that I wouldn't amount to anything.

One that cemented his hatred (and anxiety) for school that stays with him today. He was a wreck when he was training for his current job. It's funny because we have constructive discussions about my research (plant ecology). He has a good scientific mind.

steverockson: We're very careful about "labeling" our daughter, very few people know about it, and the school sure as hell doesn't know, I doubt they would be helpful and we don't want her stigmatized.

I doubt schools give a flying fark, especially if they are public.

DON.MAC: steverockson: We're very careful about "labeling" our daughter, very few people know about it, and the school sure as hell doesn't know, I doubt they would be helpful and we don't want her stigmatized.

You have labelled her and she will know even if you don't see it yet.  You need it mitigate that sooner than later.  The sooner you do it, the better for everyone.  At least you didn't label her for the rest of the world which is a very good thing.

What do you mean by "mitigate" it? We don't make a big deal out of it, for us it's like dealing with diabetes.

Tanthalas39: I think the whole "bunny rabbit" and "something shiny" joke has really, really run its course.

Especially when there IS NO BUNNY in the link. That really pisses me off.

steverockson: DON.MAC: steverockson: We're very careful about "labeling" our daughter, very few people know about it, and the school sure as hell doesn't know, I doubt they would be helpful and we don't want her stigmatized.

You have labelled her and she will know even if you don't see it yet.  You need it mitigate that sooner than later.  The sooner you do it, the better for everyone.  At least you didn't label her for the rest of the world which is a very good thing.

What do you mean by "mitigate" it? We don't make a big deal out of it, for us it's like dealing with diabetes.

There are people who claim that to call someone a "diabetic" (rather than a person with diabetes) is to label them.

I think they need more hobbies.

ph0rk: steverockson: DON.MAC: steverockson: We're very careful about "labeling" our daughter, very few people know about it, and the school sure as hell doesn't know, I doubt they would be helpful and we don't want her stigmatized.

You have labelled her and she will know even if you don't see it yet.  You need it mitigate that sooner than later.  The sooner you do it, the better for everyone.  At least you didn't label her for the rest of the world which is a very good thing.

What do you mean by "mitigate" it? We don't make a big deal out of it, for us it's like dealing with diabetes.

There are people who claim that to call someone a "diabetic" (rather than a person with diabetes) is to label them.

I think they need more hobbies.

Well yeah, and we don't call her an ADHDetic.

nekom: I will not dispute any of that. What I will point out, however, is that for every child that actually DOES need it (and I do realize that many do), there are many more who do NOT need it, but are prescribed it. It's a shame, but it's true.

It is, and you have to do very little research to find out that the most popular prescription drugs for it are basically pharmaceutical grade meth. If I were a parent, I wouldn't want my kid touching the stuff unless it was a necessity.

Attention spans are lower in a world with an abundance of stimuli more engaging than one's expected tasks.

/film at 11

steverockson:

We're very careful about "labeling" our daughter, very few people know about it, and the school sure as hell doesn't know, I doubt they would be helpful and we don't want her stigmatized.

That is a good thing.

Don't tell the school. It'll just make them treat her differently. She won't appreciate that in the long run.

doczoidberg: steverockson:

We're very careful about "labeling" our daughter, very few people know about it, and the school sure as hell doesn't know, I doubt they would be helpful and we don't want her stigmatized.

That is a good thing.

Don't tell the school. It'll just make them treat her differently. She won't appreciate that in the long run.

I agree, especially since she doesn't need accommodations.

steverockson: ph0rk: steverockson: DON.MAC: steverockson: We're very careful about "labeling" our daughter, very few people know about it, and the school sure as hell doesn't know, I doubt they would be helpful and we don't want her stigmatized.

You have labelled her and she will know even if you don't see it yet.  You need it mitigate that sooner than later.  The sooner you do it, the better for everyone.  At least you didn't label her for the rest of the world which is a very good thing.

What do you mean by "mitigate" it? We don't make a big deal out of it, for us it's like dealing with diabetes.

There are people who claim that to call someone a "diabetic" (rather than a person with diabetes) is to label them.

I think they need more hobbies.

Well yeah, and we don't call her an ADHDetic.

ADHD is a part of your daughter, but it is not who she is. It does not define her. It sounds like you are teaching her this. Which is a good thing. I will teach my son the same, when he's old enough to understand.

It's all about learning to cope. It's the kids that are never properly diagnosed and never given the opportunity to learn how to cope that end up having the problems.

DON.MAC: steverockson: DON.MAC: steverockson: We're very careful about "labeling" our daughter, very few people know about it, and the school sure as hell doesn't know, I doubt they would be helpful and we don't want her stigmatized.

You have labelled her and she will know even if you don't see it yet.  You need it mitigate that sooner than later.  The sooner you do it, the better for everyone.  At least you didn't label her for the rest of the world which is a very good thing.

What do you mean by "mitigate" it? We don't make a big deal out of it, for us it's like dealing with diabetes.

You mitigate it by finding solutions.  I'm guessing she isn't good at dealing with the combination of modern education combined with modern entertainment combined with modern lifestyle.  By modern I mean what every other kid is doing. You need to find the solution to balance those three.

She's perfectly fine dealing with all that as long as she takes her daily pill. Without it she ceases to function. Concerta was a godsend for us.

steverockson: I am Wee Todd Ed: You can collect SSID Social Security Disability for ADHD.

I wonder if that influences some people to get their kids diagnosed with ADHD so they can collect $$$.


*No offense to anyone who really does have ADHD and collects SSID.

I wonder if you need to be tested or if you can just have some random doctor say you have it. When my daughter was diagnosed she underwent a battery of tests that generated a near 20 page report.

I'm thinking that there are a few docs that will diagnose a kid when the kid doesn't fit the criteria and parents will shop around until they find a doc that will. I work with a nice woman who's child is definitly ADHD, if you met the kid you'd agree there's something a little off with him, anyway she finally got him diagnosed as ADHD but struggled for years to do so. He's had a lot of disciplinary issues at school because he just can't focus but he's a good kid. She does collect SSI but she really needs it and it's going to help her kid.

On the other hand, I do taxes as a second job and yeah, a lot of people are getting SSI for their kid's quote ADHD unquote. Sad but true. Also, the number of people on food stamps is farking nuts. Yeah, I don't want people to go hungry but damn don't pull out that that new iphone that cost $300+ with $100+ a month phone bill while I'm doing your tax return and tell me all the benefit programs you are on.

ManOfTeal: steverockson: ph0rk: steverockson: DON.MAC: steverockson: We're very careful about "labeling" our daughter, very few people know about it, and the school sure as hell doesn't know, I doubt they would be helpful and we don't want her stigmatized.

You have labelled her and she will know even if you don't see it yet.  You need it mitigate that sooner than later.  The sooner you do it, the better for everyone.  At least you didn't label her for the rest of the world which is a very good thing.

What do you mean by "mitigate" it? We don't make a big deal out of it, for us it's like dealing with diabetes.

There are people who claim that to call someone a "diabetic" (rather than a person with diabetes) is to label them.

I think they need more hobbies.

Well yeah, and we don't call her an ADHDetic.

ADHD is a part of your daughter, but it is not who she is. It does not define her. It sounds like you are teaching her this. Which is a good thing. I will teach my son the same, when he's old enough to understand.

It's all about learning to cope. It's the kids that are never properly diagnosed and never given the opportunity to learn how to cope that end up having the problems.

Exactly! She's risen way above it.

dragyne: ADHD doesn't always mean bouncing off the wall. The impression that all ADHD kids are balls of youthful energy is a fallacy that hurts many of those kids as they reach into adulthood. Is it over diagnosed? For those kids who are full of energy and youthful exhuberene and defiance, absolutely. But don't think for a secodn that it isn't real and that it is a function of doing what you enjoy doing.

I cannot speak for all of us unlucky ones who have ADHD as adults but unmedicated I have a hard time paying attention to ANYTHING. As in I have gotten lost in the maze of my own mind in the midst of doing pleasureable activities such as having sex, playing video games, hanging out with friends. So to me at least it is not a function of doing something that I am not interested in... it is well and truly an inability to focus.

Diagnosed at age 38, now 43, and although my life was hell up until that point I disagree with you calling us unlucky. When I was finally diagnosed I was so relieved I broke down in tears and you know exactly why I did. Since then I find I prefer the company of others with it. We are definately different and in a good way. Who else is going to be able to understand you and be tolerant of your behaviour than another with it? We also seem to be lacking the ability to be fake and malicious like most common folk. I believe it is because we can't focus long enough to be devious or the inherent naivete we have keeps us in an almost childlike mentality that prevents us from acting false or fake, pretending to be something we aren't or portray false feelings. We are open books, and although some will find us intolerable for speaking our minds and feelings without hesitation, I love myself and the rest of you with it for that very reason. We are honest. We don't have ulterior motives. I recommend joining a group therapy just to have the pleasure of being in a room full of others like yourselves and you will see what I'm talking about.

Because of this I will only date women who have also been diagnosed, preferably as an adult as well. I have learned many coping mechanisms and methods for adjusting in order to better my life and if anyone needs advice or even a friendly ear, I am here for you. Noone that doesn't have it can possibly understand and therefore please stay away from so called "life coaches". They are vultures who are not going to help you do anything other than empty your wallet or purse.

Also for those in the Edmonton area I want to warn you about this so called Canadian "expert" on adult ADHD Dr. Nagy Youssef, he doesn't have it, he has only a basic understanding of what life is like with it, and is actively trying to get recognition of it as a disability removed by the CRA and the federal govnmt. That is not the behaviour of a caring and understanding health proffesional and having seen him for 6 months I can assure you he is worse than useless, he will damage your self-esteem and minimize your struggles. Avoid him.

Also, if you didn't know, it is a recognised mental disability and a decent general practitioner can assist you in filling out the forms necessary to qualify for the disability tax credit. If you are approved, I was, you can ask to have it applied retroactively for the last ten tax years and you will get a cheque from the CRA for about $16,000 once they have reassessed your taxes. It takes over six months but worth it, n'est pas?

Glockenspiel Hero: As a parent to a severely ADHD kid, let me just say
1) It's real -but over diagnosed
2) It's a condition you're born with: it's not caused by (junk food|too much TV|Dr. Spock parenting|etc) -But studies have shown that cutting the junk food and increasing exercise eliminates the need for drugs for all but the most serious cases
3) The drugs are a requirement to function: we'd much rather he never have to take another one. -Most agree, drugs are occasionally necessary, but currently vastly over-prescribed
Do you know there are regular schools where over half the kids are on some form of ADHD medication? The school practically hires doctors to hand out prescriptions. There are other schools, in matching socio-economic areas, that have less than 1% on drugs. That just doesn't make sense if it's solely a medical condition.

If your kid is one of 1-2% in his school on the drugs, then I'm fine with it: He's a legitimate case. If he's one of 50%, then I start getting leery.

BAMFinator: Are there more kids with ADHD or are they just diagnosing more kids with ADHD?

/dnrtfa

There are more people in the psychiatric "profession" (I use the term loosely in this case) in need of clients suckers and besides those pharmaceuticals are not going to sell themselves.

megalynn44: I'm sure raising them all on screens from birth has nothing to do with it. Kids are much better off not playing outside where it's dangerous after all.

I'm sure there are cases of that, but looking back my daughter exhibited symptoms from birth. She would never, ever go to sleep on her own, if you just put her in her crib she would cry for hours and NOT go to sleep. She had to be actively rocked to sleep EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. As a toddler if you tried to read her a book, after a minute or two she would grab it, throw it in the floor and run away. She was our oldest so we thought this was normal.

steverockson: /Csb?

Either that or an astroturf marketing campaign for the drug you mentioned.

Seriously, you made it sound too good to be true.

You could probably make a good living as an evangelical preacher.

Happy Hours: steverockson: /Csb?

Either that or an astroturf marketing campaign for the drug you mentioned.

Seriously, you made it sound too good to be true.

You could probably make a good living as an evangelical preacher.

Every single word of it is true. Trust me, I never wanted my daughter to be on drugs. We went through hell for three years before finally doing something about it. I know that these meds aren't for everyone, we were ver lucky.

DON.MAC: steverockson: DON.MAC: steverockson: DON.MAC: steverockson: We're very careful about "labeling" our daughter, very few people know about it, and the school sure as hell doesn't know, I doubt they would be helpful and we don't want her stigmatized.

You have labelled her and she will know even if you don't see it yet.  You need it mitigate that sooner than later.  The sooner you do it, the better for everyone.  At least you didn't label her for the rest of the world which is a very good thing.

What do you mean by "mitigate" it? We don't make a big deal out of it, for us it's like dealing with diabetes.

You mitigate it by finding solutions.  I'm guessing she isn't good at dealing with the combination of modern education combined with modern entertainment combined with modern lifestyle.  By modern I mean what every other kid is doing. You need to find the solution to balance those three.

She's perfectly fine dealing with all that as long as she takes her daily pill. Without it she ceases to function. Concerta was a godsend for us.

Remember things aren't static in a growing kid.  Unless she is 30 yrs old, her brain chemistry is changing rapidly and hormones also will start to screw up things.  The pill does also follow some very complex half life rules that I expect 99% of doctors don't understand.  Many of these meds have turn on and turn off thresholds that are different and month long half lives which mean when the dose gets to high or low it can take a long time to fix. Combine that with growth and you get a complex mess of formulas that say things will change in the future so be prepared and don't be overly worried.

I expect that most ADHD is related to the instant gratification of some mental activity in the modern world.  I suggests you look at careers that ADHD people are good at and try to steer her in those directions because I don't think it ever ends.

Oh, I fully expect her to deal with it for life, but it doesn't define her.

My older daughter is on a very low dose of Vivance, that hasnt been upped in years, basically just to curb the worst aspects of her ADD. She is not hyper at all and has maturaty issues. She will cower and cry at the least provocation.

Her 3 year younger sister has already recogzined this and provokes her.

DON.MAC: steverockson:

Oh, I fully expect her to deal with it for life, but it doesn't define her.

Define her... no.

Define stuff that she has to deal with yes.  Sort of like if she gets a car, she has to deal with getting insurance.  Thats life.

I am 35 years old. I was diagnosed with ADD (without hyperactivity) in second grade. I have been on some form of ADD meds all my life and I graduated from a four-year university, I've been married to my high school sweetheart for over 10 years now, and I have worked in IT for over 12 years. Contrary to popular belief, we can be consistent.

ADD/ADHD kids are not outcasts. With proper coping skills, understanding from others, medication (if needed), and support from family I believe we can all be successful and positive contributing members of society.

ManOfTeal: DON.MAC: steverockson:

Oh, I fully expect her to deal with it for life, but it doesn't define her.

Define her... no.

Define stuff that she has to deal with yes.  Sort of like if she gets a car, she has to deal with getting insurance.  Thats life.

I am 35 years old. I was diagnosed with ADD (without hyperactivity) in second grade. I have been on some form of ADD meds all my life and I graduated from a four-year university, I've been married to my high school sweetheart for over 10 years now, and I have worked in IT for over 12 years. Contrary to popular belief, we can be consistent.

ADD/ADHD kids are not outcasts. With proper coping skills, understanding from others, medication (if needed), and support from family I believe we can all be successful and positive contributing members of society.

Absolutely!

I wonder how long it will be before some moron lawmaker tries to stop people with a ADD diagnosis from getting a driver's license.

Cythraul: cyberbenali:. He was told that by a third grade teacher that he would never amount to anything. Heh...
.

What kind of teacher does that? I had my fair share of asshole teachers as a kid, but none of them ever told me that I wouldn't amount to anything.

I got that from a high school teacher. Teachers can be assholes just like everyone esle. While I am happy to see that the treatment works in some cases, I think it would be naive to think that there aren't kids out there misdiagnosed because of asshole parents or teachers.

I was one of those active kids in school in the early 90s. Because of that, the teacher recommended my parents have me evaluated for ADHD. She had half the boys in my class on drugs for over activity. Of course they diagnosed me, as was all the rage then. Since my parents were smart enough to sense bullshiat, they took me to a different doctor who said some little boys are just more active than others. I was on Ritalin for maybe a week.

I believe that ADHD exists, but is heavily over-diagnosed. Not because parents don't want to deal with their kids, but because if the kids are crazy energetic little shiats the parents feel that "something" has to be wrong. So it's a magic bullet. Kids act nuts, they must have ADHD. And, it gives parents a chance to have something to brag about to other parents. Oh sure, they don't sound like they are bragging, but if their child has ADHD, well, just look how heroic of a parent they are because they have this challenge they must face every day! Plus, any bad behavior can be excused.
I just feel for the parents who really do have a kid with it and have to deal. Can't be easy.

A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

Space Monkey 39: Cythraul: cyberbenali:. He was told that by a third grade teacher that he would never amount to anything. Heh...
.

What kind of teacher does that? I had my fair share of asshole teachers as a kid, but none of them ever told me that I wouldn't amount to anything.

I got that from a high school teacher. Teachers can be assholes just like everyone esle. While I am happy to see that the treatment works in some cases, I think it would be naive to think that there aren't kids out there misdiagnosed because of asshole parents or teachers.

He wasn't diagnosed until high school (5 years post idiot teacher) which is quite late to intervene effectively. It's a lot more difficult to teach the coping skills to a teenager than it is to teach a child.

steverockson 2013-01-22 09:52:32 AM

Happy Hours: steverockson: /Csb?

Either that or an astroturf marketing campaign for the drug you mentioned.

Seriously, you made it sound too good to be true.

You could probably make a good living as an evangelical preacher.

Every single word of it is true. Trust me, I never wanted my daughter to be on drugs. We went through hell for three years before finally doing something about it. I know that these meds aren't for everyone, we were ver lucky.

Being that Steverockson and I have been friends since High School, I can attest that he definitely isn't trying to sell anything here - he kept me updated while all this was going on and it's all true.

MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

fark you asshole. It's farking real. It may be over diagnosed but its farking real.

steverockson: MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

fark you asshole. It's farking real. It may be over diagnosed but its farking real.

By the way., my daughter is in no way "unruly", she's the kindest, nicest kid on the planet, so again, FU€K YOU

Deny AD&D morons the right to own guns. That will fix em.

Would not doubt that would be flagged as mental illness, reported by your doc tor to the ATF upon pain of prison. Now all the liberals who somehow miraculously have AD&D will get a taste of their own medicine. I swear, 75% of Farkers have AD&D or their kids have it. I wonder why?

ManOfTeal: DON.MAC: steverockson:

Oh, I fully expect her to deal with it for life, but it doesn't define her.

Define her... no.

Define stuff that she has to deal with yes.  Sort of like if she gets a car, she has to deal with getting insurance.  Thats life.

I am 35 years old. I was diagnosed with ADD (without hyperactivity) in second grade. I have been on some form of ADD meds all my life and I graduated from a four-year university, I've been married to my high school sweetheart for over 10 years now, and I have worked in IT for over 12 years. Contrary to popular belief, we can be consistent.

ADD/ADHD kids are not outcasts. With proper coping skills, understanding from others, medication (if needed), and support from family I believe we can all be successful and positive contributing members of society.

Absolutely, there are similarities between our experiences. However, there is a gradient of how the disorder is expressed. My SO has ADD, did not respond well to medication and stayed in the regular school stream. His other brother has ADHD, responded somewhat to medication and was placed in an alternative program to complete high school. Yet, both have been able to find well-paying jobs in which they are successful. Their other brother is younger but I think he may have a harder time as an adult. We will see.

Thunderpipes: Deny AD&D morons the right to own guns. That will fix em.

Would not doubt that would be flagged as mental illness, reported by your doc tor to the ATF upon pain of prison. Now all the liberals who somehow miraculously have AD&D will get a taste of their own medicine. I swear, 75% of Farkers have AD&D or their kids have it. I wonder why?

WTF is AD&D? Also, WTF are you talking about?

greenbowlpacker: ADHD - Made up by the drug companies, for the drug companies.

steverockson: steverockson: MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

fark you asshole. It's farking real. It may be over diagnosed but its farking real.

By the way., my daughter is in no way "unruly", she's the kindest, nicest kid on the planet, so again, FU€K YOU

Dude, don't feed the trolls. I simply put him on ignore. He's not worth the oxygen he breathes. I put the reason I ignored him as because he's a dumb ass.

Reverend Monkeypants: greenbowlpacker: ADHD - Made up by the drug companies, for the drug companies.

You explain that to my daughter whose life was literally changed by her medication. I wasn't a believer either, but I am now.

ManOfTeal: steverockson: steverockson: MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

fark you asshole. It's farking real. It may be over diagnosed but its farking real.

By the way., my daughter is in no way "unruly", she's the kindest, nicest kid on the planet, so again, FU€K YOU

Dude, don't feed the trolls. I simply put him on ignore. He's not worth the oxygen he breathes. I put the reason I ignored him as because he's a dumb ass.

Gotcha

The old test for ADHD was to beat them until they payed attention... the ones that forgot about the beatings were ADHD.
The new test is to see if kids get bored when they have nothing to do, so now 140% of children brought to doctors for diagnosis are diagnosed with it.

bborchar: There are kids who truly have it...but over 3% of all children? That's ridiculously high. Most of the kids "diagnosed" are done so by teachers...

False -- teachers aren't allowed to diagnose anything. At best, we're allowed to be told how we'll completely alter our instruction to accomodate the needs of one student. Parents initiate steps to have their children tested by psychologists and doctors. At no time is a teacher ever asked if a student is ADD or ADHD. We might be asked to provide additional evidence to an already-made diagnoses.

steverockson: megalynn44: I'm sure raising them all on screens from birth has nothing to do with it. Kids are much better off not playing outside where it's dangerous after all.

I'm sure there are cases of that, but looking back my daughter exhibited symptoms from birth. She would never, ever go to sleep on her own, if you just put her in her crib she would cry for hours and NOT go to sleep. She had to be actively rocked to sleep EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. As a toddler if you tried to read her a book, after a minute or two she would grab it, throw it in the floor and run away. She was our oldest so we thought this was normal.

My daughter did too. I gave up on breast feeding because attempting to cradle her so she couldn't look around and track things with her eyes resulted in screaming and not eating. Having her on a bottle so her head was free and she could look all over the place while she ate, worked fine. Also if we put her in any sort of play contraption that had multiple interactive functions--bouncy chair, swing, whatever, she could handle about 30 seconds before flipping out. If we removed all but one function, she could handle it for about 3-5 minutes. Her best (read: least traumatic) play place was a blanket on the floor with a few toys very far apart from each other.

I love it when they call "being a brat" Defiant Opposition Disorder (or whatever).

I once encountered a woman with a HORRIBLE kid who said he had that disease. Wouldn't punish him. I think both of them should have been beaten.

SuperSally: steverockson: megalynn44: I'm sure raising them all on screens from birth has nothing to do with it. Kids are much better off not playing outside where it's dangerous after all.

I'm sure there are cases of that, but looking back my daughter exhibited symptoms from birth. She would never, ever go to sleep on her own, if you just put her in her crib she would cry for hours and NOT go to sleep. She had to be actively rocked to sleep EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. As a toddler if you tried to read her a book, after a minute or two she would grab it, throw it in the floor and run away. She was our oldest so we thought this was normal.

My daughter did too. I gave up on breast feeding because attempting to cradle her so she couldn't look around and track things with her eyes resulted in screaming and not eating. Having her on a bottle so her head was free and she could look all over the place while she ate, worked fine. Also if we put her in any sort of play contraption that had multiple interactive functions--bouncy chair, swing, whatever, she could handle about 30 seconds before flipping out. If we removed all but one function, she could handle it for about 3-5 minutes. Her best (read: least traumatic) play place was a blanket on the floor with a few toys very far apart from each other.

Is your daughter on ADHD medications now? If so, how is she doing?

On a side note, I've met quite a few students who were truly ADD or ADHD - and it's immediately obvious when you speak with them. However, I've met many many more that were on medication, but clearly shouldn't have been. What they really needed was consistent parenting. Again, this was usually pretty obvious once you met their parents.

Generally speaking, we overdrug our young far too much, and I like to think that years from now, we'll remember this time in history with shame. We should never force a large segment of our population to conform through the use of chemicals. However, I see it more as a symptom than a cause. Right now, we force our students to sit still for 7-8 hours a day with little-to-no exercise while we pump them full of horrendous food (french fries every day!). It's a mess. The people could affect change to the greatest degree (teachers) are marginalized more effectively with each passing year -- yet we hold them more accountable.

Every single person that has ever met me would likely conclude that I have pretty substantial ADHD. I always kind of wonder what would have happened had I been medicated.

I grew up with ADHD - primarily inattentive. Back in the 80's, they'd almost NEVER seen someone like me - who couldn't concentrate, but didn't have the hyperactivity that tends to go with it. But I was diagnosed at age 7 by a university lab, spent the entire day there going through tests, playing, etc... all under the careful watch of the folks in white coats. For me, it was a blast - I learned a LOT that day, got to show off how smart I was (and I was - they did an IQ test while they were at it, and 149 is pretty damned high, wouldn't you say?), and these adults PLAYED with me. OMG adults who played!

So yeah. Fully and clinically diagnosed at 7. Back when ADHD was barely understood by educators, and was just getting better understood by psychologists. I was raised without medication, and instead was taught behavior therapy. Oddly enough, using the methods to raise and ADHD kid will work with ANY kid - you have to teach consequences for actions, and responsibility - and let them learn for themselves. Because just like any kid - they're not going to believe you when you talk about it, and worse than most kids, many won't even be listening to you.

They'll just see your lips moving, nod, then run off to go have fun.

Even now, I have a hard time standing there and listening to someone yammer on. I zone out, start thinking about the coffee pot at home, or the curtains that need re-hemming, or what I want to make for lunch next weekend, or how bright the person's shirt is and whether or not they know how bright it is... because DAMN. And I'm 32 now.

It's real. Very much so. But I wish that behavioral therapy was used more often than meds - because when the kids grow up, they might not be able to afford to keep taking those meds, and they're going to have to learn how to handle their shiat later in life.

steverockson:

Is your daughter on ADHD medications now? If so, how is she doing?

We had her on medication for a few years and initially it was a marked improvement. As it went on, though, she was having terrible problems with weight loss and appetite suppression (It didn't help that they had lunch at 10:30 AM). Plus, by the time the meds burned through her system she was exhausted by the end of the day and had real trouble with homework, so we took her off them last year (4th grade). Oddly enough, by taking her off meds it altered what the school could do in terms of behavioral modification which I think works better than having her on meds and no behavioral modification.

Schools are so weird.

She was on Concerta and Stratera.

TheGreatGazoo: I was diagnosed with ADD and put on Dexedrine. The pediatrician I had would basically bump up the prescription every time my mom asked (pretty much every visit). Every time that happened I would be up for a week. Well, I might finally fall asleep at 5 am, then have to get up at 6 am. Then they wondered why I couldn't pay attention. Gee, really?

Funny how when another doctor freaked out at the dose I was on and after 4 months of weaning me off of it under the supervision of a neurologist I managed to get two engineering degrees.

My son was "diagnosed" with ADHD... BY HIS 2ND GRADE TEACHER. She recommended we find a pediatrician that would put him on meds otherwise she predicted he would fail out of school. My wife and I laughed and said no. I did talk to our pediatrician about it and she laughed and said hell no. I am certain that meds could make him a more organized, more focused student but he is in all honors classes and is doing fine. Other parents complain about the hours their kids spend doing homework, I complain that he does not get enough homework.

SuperSally: steverockson:

Is your daughter on ADHD medications now? If so, how is she doing?

We had her on medication for a few years and initially it was a marked improvement. As it went on, though, she was having terrible problems with weight loss and appetite suppression (It didn't help that they had lunch at 10:30 AM). Plus, by the time the meds burned through her system she was exhausted by the end of the day and had real trouble with homework, so we took her off them last year (4th grade). Oddly enough, by taking her off meds it altered what the school could do in terms of behavioral modification which I think works better than having her on meds and no behavioral modification.

Schools are so weird.

She was on Concerta and Stratera.

Maybe it worked to our advantage starting my daughter a little later. She didn't start meds until the middle of 6th grade. She had the appetite issues when we first started but I guess it's all normalized now. If she forgets to take it in the morning she says she just can't focus and doesn't even try to do her work, she just brings it home or calls me or my wife to bring her pill to her.

Good luck with your girl, they're all different.

Also, for any other adukts out there, I found Vyvanse to be a superior med in that it lasts pretty much all day. I take Concerta when Im not on a drug plan because of the price difference but it peters out after less than 12 hours.

steverockson: ManOfTeal: steverockson: steverockson: MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

fark you asshole. It's farking real. It may be over diagnosed but its farking real.

By the way., my daughter is in no way "unruly", she's the kindest, nicest kid on the planet, so again, FU€K YOU

Dude, don't feed the trolls. I simply put him on ignore. He's not worth the oxygen he breathes. I put the reason I ignored him as because he's a dumb ass.

Gotcha

So because he said that it's basically massively over diagnosed these days (ie; from 1% to 7%) and the likely problem is lack personal responsibility and excuse making you guys put him on ignore?

He didn't say a *thing* about your kid and you flew off the handle. WTF.

I have seen *exactly* what he's talking about where I live. Just because you didn't do it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

/geeze.

Glockenspiel Hero: Sigh- I see the trolls are out in force.

As a parent to a severely ADHD kid, let me just say
1) It's real
2) It's a condition you're born with: it's not caused by (junk food|too much TV|Dr. Spock parenting|etc)
3) The drugs are a requirement to function: we'd much rather he never have to take another one.

You may now continue with your trolling

I completely agree with what you said. Also, I have ADD without the hyperactivity, but I wish I was diagnosed years earlier.

No such thing. It's helicopter parent Munchausen by Proxy Nightingale Stockholm syndrome.

steverockson: WTF is AD&D? Also, WTF are you talking about?

I figure he was getting cute with ADHD, or was typing on a phone with over-eager autocorrect(and not proofreading sufficiently).

As for what else, it's something of a valid complaint, if poorly stated. One of the big issues today is the concern about making sure mentally ill people don't get ahold of firearms. The problem with this is that nearly everybody today has SOME mental issue; even if said issue doesn't actually predispose 99% of them towards violence. If you set the bar of 'mentally ill' too high, you get nuts still able to obtain firearms and go on a rampage. Set it too low and you get some version of section 8 - 'you want a gun; you must be mentally ill(and have a small penis); denied!'. Not to mention that if you make loosing your firearms a real possibility you have the problem that gunnies won't want to seek medical intervention for any mental issue; actually increasing the danger. It's a fine line to tread.

PhoenixInFlames: I grew up with ADHD - primarily inattentive. Back in the 80's, they'd almost NEVER seen someone like me - who couldn't concentrate, but didn't have the hyperactivity that tends to go with it. But I was diagnosed at age 7 by a university lab, spent the entire day there going through tests, playing, etc... all under the careful watch of the folks in white coats. For me, it was a blast - I learned a LOT that day, got to show off how smart I was (and I was - they did an IQ test while they were at it, and 149 is pretty damned high, wouldn't you say?), and these adults PLAYED with me. OMG adults who played!

So yeah. Fully and clinically diagnosed at 7. Back when ADHD was barely understood by educators, and was just getting better understood by psychologists. I was raised without medication, and instead was taught behavior therapy. Oddly enough, using the methods to raise and ADHD kid will work with ANY kid - you have to teach consequences for actions, and responsibility - and let them learn for themselves. Because just like any kid - they're not going to believe you when you talk about it, and worse than most kids, many won't even be listening to you.

They'll just see your lips moving, nod, then run off to go have fun.

Even now, I have a hard time standing there and listening to someone yammer on. I zone out, start thinking about the coffee pot at home, or the curtains that need re-hemming, or what I want to make for lunch next weekend, or how bright the person's shirt is and whether or not they know how bright it is... because DAMN. And I'm 32 now.

It's real. Very much so. But I wish that behavioral therapy was used more often than meds - because when the kids grow up, they might not be able to afford to keep taking those meds, and they're going to have to learn how to handle their shiat later in life.

Heh, I zoned out while reading your post.

Not add though, at least never tested and wouldn't have taken the meds even if they prescribed them. (I'm contrary like that.) I think you're right behavior therapy would go a long way to reducing medication in general. It's almost like all kids need consistency or something to learn. Funny thing that.

cuzsis: PhoenixInFlames: I grew up with ADHD - primarily inattentive. Back in the 80's, they'd almost NEVER seen someone like me - who couldn't concentrate, but didn't have the hyperactivity that tends to go with it. But I was diagnosed at age 7 by a university lab, spent the entire day there going through tests, playing, etc... all under the careful watch of the folks in white coats. For me, it was a blast - I learned a LOT that day, got to show off how smart I was (and I was - they did an IQ test while they were at it, and 149 is pretty damned high, wouldn't you say?), and these adults PLAYED with me. OMG adults who played!

So yeah. Fully and clinically diagnosed at 7. Back when ADHD was barely understood by educators, and was just getting better understood by psychologists. I was raised without medication, and instead was taught behavior therapy. Oddly enough, using the methods to raise and ADHD kid will work with ANY kid - you have to teach consequences for actions, and responsibility - and let them learn for themselves. Because just like any kid - they're not going to believe you when you talk about it, and worse than most kids, many won't even be listening to you.

They'll just see your lips moving, nod, then run off to go have fun.

Even now, I have a hard time standing there and listening to someone yammer on. I zone out, start thinking about the coffee pot at home, or the curtains that need re-hemming, or what I want to make for lunch next weekend, or how bright the person's shirt is and whether or not they know how bright it is... because DAMN. And I'm 32 now.

It's real. Very much so. But I wish that behavioral therapy was used more often than meds - because when the kids grow up, they might not be able to afford to keep taking those meds, and they're going to have to learn how to handle their shiat later in life.

Heh, I zoned out while reading your post.

Not add though, at least never tested and wouldn't have taken the meds even if they prescri ...

If only all human beings fit into this nice, easily treatable bubble where what works for one person will work for all people regardless. If only reality weren't such a heartless biatch.

You cannot teach behavioral therapy to a child that is unable to calm down and focus long enough to get your point across. Unless by behavioral therapy you also mean beating the snot out of the kid and then tying him to a chair. That may work in third world countries but that won't fly where things like child abuse are not condoned.

The meds calm the mind by regulating the chemicals that are out of balance to the point where you are able to teach the child the difference between right and wrong and what good behavior is versus bad behavior. If the kid can't focus, he can't learn.

cuzsis: steverockson: ManOfTeal: steverockson: steverockson: MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

fark you asshole. It's farking real. It may be over diagnosed but its farking real.

By the way., my daughter is in no way "unruly", she's the kindest, nicest kid on the planet, so again, FU€K YOU

Dude, don't feed the trolls. I simply put him on ignore. He's not worth the oxygen he breathes. I put the reason I ignored him as because he's a dumb ass.

Gotcha

So because he said that it's basically massively over diagnosed these days (ie; from 1% to 7%) and the likely problem is lack personal responsibility and excuse making you guys put him on ignore?

He didn't say a *thing* about your kid and you flew off the handle. WTF.

I have seen *exactly* what he's talking about where I live. Just because you didn't do it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

/geeze.

He said "a disease created to justify bad children". You can't see where I might be offended by that statement?

steverockson: SuperSally: steverockson:

Is your daughter on ADHD medications now? If so, how is she doing?

We had her on medication for a few years and initially it was a marked improvement. As it went on, though, she was having terrible problems with weight loss and appetite suppression (It didn't help that they had lunch at 10:30 AM). Plus, by the time the meds burned through her system she was exhausted by the end of the day and had real trouble with homework, so we took her off them last year (4th grade). Oddly enough, by taking her off meds it altered what the school could do in terms of behavioral modification which I think works better than having her on meds and no behavioral modification.

Schools are so weird.

She was on Concerta and Stratera.

Maybe it worked to our advantage starting my daughter a little later. She didn't start meds until the middle of 6th grade. She had the appetite issues when we first started but I guess it's all normalized now. If she forgets to take it in the morning she says she just can't focus and doesn't even try to do her work, she just brings it home or calls me or my wife to bring her pill to her.

Good luck with your girl, they're all different.

From experience... you probably should work with coping skills with her. You can't guarantee she will always have access to medication so you need to have a decent back up plan (and it's not mom and dad bringing more medication either.)

Better to figure out coping strategies now so she doesn't risk losing her job when she's older.

Situations I have personally seen:
-Can't afford the medication + dr visit due to lack of health insurance, but can't afford to lose your job.
-Can't take time off work to get prescription refill done and are without medication for about a week.
-Forget to take medication during a day with lots of important work to be done (ie: presentation to give ect...)
-Thought you refilled your prescription only to find that you didn't and need to go without for a couple days.

There are others out there I'm sure, but those are all real world real-easy-to-happen-to-you scenarios.

/last person I told this to...didn't believe me.
//their kid damn near lost their first job because one or more of the above happened and they had nothing to fall back on.
///kid has since developed coping strategies on their own, but it was understandably a rough ride.

steverockson: cuzsis: steverockson: ManOfTeal: steverockson: steverockson: MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

fark you asshole. It's farking real. It may be over diagnosed but its farking real.

By the way., my daughter is in no way "unruly", she's the kindest, nicest kid on the planet, so again, FU€K YOU

Dude, don't feed the trolls. I simply put him on ignore. He's not worth the oxygen he breathes. I put the reason I ignored him as because he's a dumb ass.

Gotcha

So because he said that it's basically massively over diagnosed these days (ie; from 1% to 7%) and the likely problem is lack personal responsibility and excuse making you guys put him on ignore?

He didn't say a *thing* about your kid and you flew off the handle. WTF.

I have seen *exactly* what he's talking about where I live. Just because you didn't do it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

/geeze.

He said "a disease created to justify bad children". You can't see where I might be offended by that statement?

No. Because it frequently *is* used for that.

You are, thankfully, one of the few who actually have a legitimate need. (The 1% as it were). But from everything you've read here and other people have seen a vast majority of people *are* using it in place of either discipline (or sometimes just to get better grades...I think New York Times ran a study on that a while ago.)

It should come as no surprise to you that people out there think the industry is full of crap and are ready to toss the baby out with the bathwater.

One farker does not a movement make, but in this case he's hardly alone. If you were to "ignore" everyone who spouted this, you wouldn't have much of a thread to read.

Do what you like, just understand you are in the minority when it comes to having your kid take meds and people tend to generalize when there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Just take it in stride and don't let it bother you.

List them as mental, dope them and take away their rights. It's the only way.

steverockson: Good luck with your girl, they're all different.

Thanks! You too!

AD&D just sounds cooler.

No such thing anyway. Just excuses for bad parenting.

ManOfTeal: steverockson: steverockson: MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

fark you asshole. It's farking real. It may be over diagnosed but its farking real.

By the way., my daughter is in no way "unruly", she's the kindest, nicest kid on the planet, so again, FU€K YOU

Dude, don't feed the trolls. I simply put him on ignore. He's not worth the oxygen he breathes. I put the reason I ignored him as because he's a dumb ass.

Omg. Someone disagrees with me. Must be a troll!

The fact is there has been proliferation of increased mental illness without much actual science to back it up. The tome on disorder has grown expnentially from the same science that put forth eugenics.

Do you honestly believe nearly 10% of the population is too disabled to work?You are part of the excuse, not my fault culture.

Study after study shows most add is cured or remediated through proper diet and exercise. But fark that, that shiat is hard, what is on tv.

Both of you are ignorant if you dont believe there is an excuse making culture seeking ways to pass their own blame.

blah blah blah, who wants to watch me hit some dingers?

MyRandomName: ManOfTeal: steverockson: steverockson: MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

fark you asshole. It's farking real. It may be over diagnosed but its farking real.

By the way., my daughter is in no way "unruly", she's the kindest, nicest kid on the planet, so again, FU€K YOU

Dude, don't feed the trolls. I simply put him on ignore. He's not worth the oxygen he breathes. I put the reason I ignored him as because he's a dumb ass.

Omg. Someone disagrees with me. Must be a troll!

The fact is there has been proliferation of increased mental illness without much actual science to back it up. The tome on disorder has grown expnentially from the same science that put forth eugenics.

Do you honestly believe nearly 10% of the population is too disabled to work?You are part of the excuse, not my fault culture.

Study after study shows most add is cured or remediated through proper diet and exercise. But fark that, that shiat is hard, what is on tv.

Both of you are ignorant if you dont believe there is an excuse making culture seeking ways to pass their own blame.

Walk a day in my shoes asshole, then see if you still call it an excuse.

AND! Diet and exercise won't do shiat for a chemical imbalance that you get through genetics. Which ADHD has been linked to heavily. Typically it's past from father to son in most cases, though it is starting to increase in girls.

You don't just come in and yell bullshiat on something people struggle all their lives with and then not expect a fight.

Would you dare tell a mentally challenged person that it is because of their diet and lack of exercise that they gained an additional chromosome.

You sir are the ignorant one. Good day to you.

MyRandomName: ManOfTeal: steverockson: steverockson: MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

fark you asshole. It's farking real. It may be over diagnosed but its farking real.

By the way., my daughter is in no way "unruly", she's the kindest, nicest kid on the planet, so again, FU€K YOU

Dude, don't feed the trolls. I simply put him on ignore. He's not worth the oxygen he breathes. I put the reason I ignored him as because he's a dumb ass.

Omg. Someone disagrees with me. Must be a troll!

The fact is there has been proliferation of increased mental illness without much actual science to back it up. The tome on disorder has grown expnentially from the same science that put forth eugenics.

Do you honestly believe nearly 10% of the population is too disabled to work?You are part of the excuse, not my fault culture.

Study after study shows most add is cured or remediated through proper diet and exercise. But fark that, that shiat is hard, what is on tv.

Both of you are ignorant if you dont believe there is an excuse making culture seeking ways to pass their own blame.

I won't be lectured by someone who doesn't know what the fark they're talking about.

The biggest problem I see is that parents these days will plunk their infant down in front of the TV and throw in a DVD because they think it's educational when in fact, it's re-wiring their children's brains so they *need* constant, rapid stimulation. Pediatricians recommend that children under 2 shouldn't watch TV at all, and it should be very limited in older children (or at least those are the guidelines I learned a decade ago; they may have been updated since). When I was a kid we didn't have Little Einstein DVDs and multiple channels dedicated to 24/7 children's programming, so kids just didn't watch all that much TV then. And, there was maybe the one weird kid in your school who was on medication, not half the class.

/*grumblegrumble* get off my lawn

I should be in the kitchen: The biggest problem I see is that parents these days will plunk their infant down in front of the TV and throw in a DVD because they think it's educational when in fact, it's re-wiring their children's brains so they *need* constant, rapid stimulation. Pediatricians recommend that children under 2 shouldn't watch TV at all, and it should be very limited in older children (or at least those are the guidelines I learned a decade ago; they may have been updated since). When I was a kid we didn't have Little Einstein DVDs and multiple channels dedicated to 24/7 children's programming, so kids just didn't watch all that much TV then. And, there was maybe the one weird kid in your school who was on medication, not half the class.

/*grumblegrumble* get off my lawn

I pretty much agree with all that but I feel like if its a real case the kid will have symptoms from birth like my daughter did.

Daeva: few things you wil NEVER win a SSID case with ADD alone, period no questions asked so whoever says thy are are simply lying out of embaressment for what they are really getting it for. also theres 2 types of ADD, ADD hyperactive and impulse AKA ADHD and ADD: inattentive, as a therapist and current diagnostician both fo these certainly do exist, what is heppenign however is too many parents whos children are goign through a conduct disorder, or oppositional defiant period are getting diagnosed with ADD. Add into that the fact the society like to deny the existence of sociopathy whihc despite the denial is a striking 2-4% of the population, when sociopathic qualities manifest in a child its often misconstrued ebcuse kids cnat be sociopaths right!!!!.... wrong.

As someone with ADHD, the fact that I can't understand what you're saying as a therapist has absolutely nothing to do with the ADHD, and everything to do with the complete lack of spell check.

Did they skip grammar where you went to grade school?


And now for something relevant. I stopped taking my medicine (Cylert, later taken off the market for the liver damage it causes) the day before graduating from high school. Having been unmedicated for 14 years, I can say that I can only give 100% of my focus to the task at hand if there are 293847 other things happening around me. There are a ton of coping mechanisms kids and adults can learn to stave off the loss of attention. Just find what works for you. :)

uttertosh: greenbowlpacker: ADHD - Made up by the drug companies, for the drug companies.

yeas... all illnesses that require treatment are. Just one huge 'Big Pharma' conspiracy. All of it. Especially asthma, MS, paranoid schizophrenia, autism and cancer. The only true illnesses are Gay, Islam and Texas Holdem Poker.

You have to admit, the evidence supporting MS is pretty shakey...

look at all the bad parents in this thread.

Thunderpipes: bborchar: The article says "diagnosed with ADHD", not that there are that many mor kids who actually have it.

/kids weren't made to sit at a desk 8 hours a day with no recess and a 15 minute lunch break

Kids still have recess, and gym class where I am from. What kids weren't meant to do, is watch TV and play video games all day long on their time off. They should be playing, all the time. No such thing as ADHD, only kids who are play deprived and have no discipline.


What about adults with ADHD?

dragyne: ADHD doesn't always mean bouncing off the wall.

Agreed.

And ADHD doesn't always mean discipline problems and trouble-making, either. Some of us ADHDers were straight-A students who never got in trouble at home or at school.

FizixJunkee: Thunderpipes: bborchar: The article says "diagnosed with ADHD", not that there are that many mor kids who actually have it.

/kids weren't made to sit at a desk 8 hours a day with no recess and a 15 minute lunch break

Kids still have recess, and gym class where I am from. What kids weren't meant to do, is watch TV and play video games all day long on their time off. They should be playing, all the time. No such thing as ADHD, only kids who are play deprived and have no discipline.


What about adults with ADHD?

Obama voters.

Seriously, no such damn thing. Adult with AD&D is just a kid who never got a backhand when he mouthed off and didn't do his chores.

FizixJunkee: Thunderpipes: bborchar: The article says "diagnosed with ADHD", not that there are that many mor kids who actually have it.

/kids weren't made to sit at a desk 8 hours a day with no recess and a 15 minute lunch break

Kids still have recess, and gym class where I am from. What kids weren't meant to do, is watch TV and play video games all day long on their time off. They should be playing, all the time. No such thing as ADHD, only kids who are play deprived and have no discipline.


What about adults with ADHD?

You are responding to a character someone plays on Fark, not a real person.

Thunderpipes: AD&D just sounds cooler.

No such thing anyway. Just excuses for bad parenting.

I thought this same thing until personal experience opened my eyes.

Mr. Right:
I know it's purely anecdotal, but a couple teachers I know have figured out that students whose parent's insurance covers the treatment or children who are on Medicaid are a lot more prone to have ADHD than children who don't have insurance coverage. Has anyone ever done a study on that aspect?

From the article:
"Higher rates of ADHD observed in affluent, white families likely represent an effort by these highly educated parents to seek help for their children who may not be fulfilling their expectations for schoolwork," Getahun and his co-workers write.

shortymac: Apparently kids with ADD get automatic medicaid AND Social Security payments to their families.

lol wut? My girlfriends kid has an ADD diagnosis and no such payments.

PiffMan420: I had to stop taking my medication (Adderall). The side effects are AWFUL and the pills are really addictive. ADD meds are basically pharmaceutical grade speed, with the comedown to boot.


This hasn't been my experience at all. Adderall doesn't affect my sleep, and other than a sensation of my sinuses opening up, I can't tell if I have it in my system (except for the being able to concentrate and get things done bit).

I have four full bottles of Adderall locked up at home 'cause I never get around to taking all the ones prescribed. That is, I don't take any on the weekends, or during breaks or vacation, etc.

Oh, and I never have any cravings to take them, nor any withdrawal symptoms when I stop taking them. I'm far from being addicted.

Maybe Adderall didn't work for you, but for me it's a miracle drug.

jst3p: shortymac: Apparently kids with ADD get automatic medicaid AND Social Security payments to their families.

lol wut? My girlfriends kid has an ADD diagnosis and no such payments.

Has everybody in this thread got me on ignore? In my Boobies I gave pretty comprehensive information about how to attain this.

/in Canada

shortymac:

Apparently kids with ADD get automatic medicaid AND Social Security payments to their families. Maybe if we had Single Payer health care there would be less incidences of it.

I didn't get any money!

Ohlookabutterfly: jst3p: shortymac: Apparently kids with ADD get automatic medicaid AND Social Security payments to their families.

lol wut? My girlfriends kid has an ADD diagnosis and no such payments.

Has everybody in this thread got me on ignore? In my Boobies I gave pretty comprehensive information about how to attain this.

/in Canada

You have Social Security and Medicaid in Canada?

ManOfTeal: MyRandomName: ManOfTeal: steverockson: steverockson: MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

fark you asshole. It's farking real. It may be over diagnosed but its farking real.

By the way., my daughter is in no way "unruly", she's the kindest, nicest kid on the planet, so again, FU€K YOU

Dude, don't feed the trolls. I simply put him on ignore. He's not worth the oxygen he breathes. I put the reason I ignored him as because he's a dumb ass.

Omg. Someone disagrees with me. Must be a troll!

The fact is there has been proliferation of increased mental illness without much actual science to back it up. The tome on disorder has grown expnentially from the same science that put forth eugenics.

Do you honestly believe nearly 10% of the population is too disabled to work?You are part of the excuse, not my fault culture.

Study after study shows most add is cured or remediated through proper diet and exercise. But fark that, that shiat is hard, what is on tv.

Both of you are ignorant if you dont believe there is an excuse making culture seeking ways to pass their own blame.

Walk a day in my shoes asshole, then see if you still call it an excuse.

AND! Diet and exercise won't do shiat for a chemical imbalance that you get through genetics. Which ADHD has been linked to heavily. Typically it's past from father to son in most cases, though it is starting to increase in girls.

You don't just come in and yell bullshiat on something people struggle all their lives with and then not expect a fight.

Would you dare tell a mentally challenged person that it is because of their diet and lack of exercise that they gained an additional chromosome.

You sir are the ignorant one. Good day to you.

Do you not know the word most? Did I say all. God damn, learn the language. You see the same excuse making in obese people whose claims of glandular problems far outnumber actual incidence.

There are farking websites telling parents and students how to "pass" the add test.

Is your add furthering your ignorance too?

FizixJunkee: PiffMan420: I had to stop taking my medication (Adderall). The side effects are AWFUL and the pills are really addictive. ADD meds are basically pharmaceutical grade speed, with the comedown to boot.


This hasn't been my experience at all. Adderall doesn't affect my sleep, and other than a sensation of my sinuses opening up, I can't tell if I have it in my system (except for the being able to concentrate and get things done bit).

I have four full bottles of Adderall locked up at home 'cause I never get around to taking all the ones prescribed. That is, I don't take any on the weekends, or during breaks or vacation, etc.

Oh, and I never have any cravings to take them, nor any withdrawal symptoms when I stop taking them. I'm far from being addicted.

Maybe Adderall didn't work for you, but for me it's a miracle drug.

This hasn't been my experience at all. Adderall doesn't affect my sleep, and other than a sensation of my sinuses opening up, I can't tell if I have it in my system (except for the being able to concentrate and get things done bit).

I have four full bottles of Adderall locked up at home 'cause I never get around to taking all the ones prescribed. That is, I don't take any on the weekends, or during breaks or vacation, etc.

Oh, and I never have any cravings to take them, nor any withdrawal symptoms when I stop taking them. I'm far from being addicted.

Maybe Adderall didn't work for you, but for me it's a miracle drug./i>

From whatI understand, the best way to confirm you have it is if the meds work. If you don't have it then you just get stoned. Like that guy, he doesn't have it.

Ohlookabutterfly: jst3p: shortymac: Apparently kids with ADD get automatic medicaid AND Social Security payments to their families.

lol wut? My girlfriends kid has an ADD diagnosis and no such payments.

Has everybody in this thread got me on ignore? In my Boobies I gave pretty comprehensive information about how to attain this.

/in Canada
How does my Boobies get filter pwned to boobies?

ManOfTeal: MyRandomName: ManOfTeal: steverockson: steverockson: MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

fark you asshole. It's farking real. It may be over diagnosed but its farking real.

By the way., my daughter is in no way "unruly", she's the kindest, nicest kid on the planet, so again, FU€K YOU

Dude, don't feed the trolls. I simply put him on ignore. He's not worth the oxygen he breathes. I put the reason I ignored him as because he's a dumb ass.

Omg. Someone disagrees with me. Must be a troll!

The fact is there has been proliferation of increased mental illness without much actual science to back it up. The tome on disorder has grown expnentially from the same science that put forth eugenics.

Do you honestly believe nearly 10% of the population is too disabled to work?You are part of the excuse, not my fault culture.

Study after study shows most add is cured or remediated through proper diet and exercise. But fark that, that shiat is hard, what is on tv.

Both of you are ignorant if you dont believe there is an excuse making culture seeking ways to pass their own blame.

Walk a day in my shoes asshole, then see if you still call it an excuse.

AND! Diet and exercise won't do shiat for a chemical imbalance that you get through genetics. Which ADHD has been linked to heavily. Typically it's past from father to son in most cases, though it is starting to increase in girls.

You don't just come in and yell bullshiat on something people struggle all their lives with and then not expect a fight.

Would you dare tell a mentally challenged person that it is because of their diet and lack of exercise that they gained an additional chromosome.

You sir are the ignorant one. Good day to you.

By the way. Funny you mention the mentally challenged scenario. Fark had an article two minths back on parents teaching their kids to fail those test to get increased ssi benefits.

Again. You are ignorant to the reality of an increasing culture seeking excuses.

Apparently you find this to be a personal attack even though i made no claims it doesn't exist ever.

Enjoy your ban for multiple personal attacks for merely pointing out the growing systemetic abuses.

Tired of the willing ignorance reduced to ad hominem.

jst3p: Ohlookabutterfly: jst3p: shortymac: Apparently kids with ADD get automatic medicaid AND Social Security payments to their families.

lol wut? My girlfriends kid has an ADD diagnosis and no such payments.

Has everybody in this thread got me on ignore? In my Boobies I gave pretty comprehensive information about how to attain this.

/in Canada

You have Social Security and Medicaid in Canada?

Know how I know you didn't read my post?

Ohlookabutterfly:


Diagnosed at age 38, now 43, and although my life was hell up until that point I disagree with you calling us unlucky. When I was finally diagnosed I was so relieved I broke down in tears and you know exactly why I did. Since then I find I prefer the company of others with it. We are definately different and in a good way. Who else is going to be able to understand you and be tolerant of your behaviour than another with it? We also seem to be lacking the ability to be fake and malicious like most common folk. I believe it is because we can't focus long enough to be devious or the inherent naivete we have keeps us in an almost childlike mentality that prevents us from acting false or fake, pretending to be something we aren't or portray false feelings. We are open books, and although some will find us intolerable for speaking our minds and feelings without hesitation, I love myself and the rest of you with it for that very reason. We are honest. We don't have ulterior motives. I recommend joining a group therapy just to have the pleasure of being in a room full of others like yourselves and you will see what I'm talking about.

Perhaps you're a tad Aspie, too? There's a lot of overlap between Asperger's (a.k.a. Assburger's) and ADHD.

FizixJunkee: Ohlookabutterfly:


Diagnosed at age 38, now 43, and although my life was hell up until that point I disagree with you calling us unlucky. When I was finally diagnosed I was so relieved I broke down in tears and you know exactly why I did. Since then I find I prefer the company of others with it. We are definately different and in a good way. Who else is going to be able to understand you and be tolerant of your behaviour than another with it? We also seem to be lacking the ability to be fake and malicious like most common folk. I believe it is because we can't focus long enough to be devious or the inherent naivete we have keeps us in an almost childlike mentality that prevents us from acting false or fake, pretending to be something we aren't or portray false feelings. We are open books, and although some will find us intolerable for speaking our minds and feelings without hesitation, I love myself and the rest of you with it for that very reason. We are honest. We don't have ulterior motives. I recommend joining a group therapy just to have the pleasure of being in a room full of others like yourselves and you will see what I'm talking about.

Perhaps you're a tad Aspie, too? There's a lot of overlap between Asperger's (a.k.a. Assburger's) and ADHD.

That has been suggested and I tend to agree. I am trying to figure out a way to have it checked without knowledge of my ADHD diagnosis interfering. Thanks for the polite suggestion :) There are many other issues that overlap with ADHD/ADD and they are called comorbids.

P.s. to all who have suggested we shouldn't have access to firearms, ADHD is classified as a learning disability, not a mental illness. If you woukd like to be taken seriously in these discussions some research may be in order, otherwise you get ignored along witht the idiots saying it doesn't exist.

Ohlookabutterfly: jst3p: Ohlookabutterfly: jst3p: shortymac: Apparently kids with ADD get automatic medicaid AND Social Security payments to their families.

lol wut? My girlfriends kid has an ADD diagnosis and no such payments.

Has everybody in this thread got me on ignore? In my Boobies I gave pretty comprehensive information about how to attain this.

/in Canada

You have Social Security and Medicaid in Canada?

Know how I know you didn't read my post?

I respond to a post that indicates that parents of children with ADD can get automatic Medicad and Social Security payments.

You claim to have given " comprehensive information about how to attain this", in Canada.

But I am the one that didn't read? Miss your meds today?

steverockson: Reverend Monkeypants: greenbowlpacker: ADHD - Made up by the drug companies, for the drug companies.

You explain that to my daughter whose life was literally changed by her medication. I wasn't a believer either, but I am now.

Ya know what happens when you give children drugs?
Their behavior changes!
WOW, what a farking revelation.
Grats on altering your offspring's personality forever.

But hey, if it's what you need to do to avoid disciplining your child then have at it.
Just drug the kid up and hypnotize them with a book or something.

shortymac: I LOL WUT'd myself because my brother has a laundry list of learning disabilities and growing up we didn't receive any payments either (to my recollection anyway). Pre-internet it was very had to get information on programs for kids. I know my Dad received an SSI stipend for each of us kids until we were 18 because got his SSI disablities (laundry list of health issues).

My quick google found this:

When we decide if your child can get SSI, we consider your child's income and resources. We also consider the income and resources of family members living in the child's household. These rules apply if your child lives at home. They also apply if he or she is away at school but returns home from time to time and is subject to your control.

If your child's income and resources, or the income and resources of family members living in the child's household, are more than the amount allowed, we will deny the child's application for SSI payments.

She probably earns too much.

Felgraf:

The best way I can describe it is it's not so much that I daydream, or that I can't pay attention to things. Rather, the problem is, to some extent, the opposite; I can't NOT pay attention to things. Without training and/or medication, *I could not block out external stimuli* well at ALL.


Exactly.

\nice to see another physics person with ADHD/ADD

Too many people dont understand how these drugs work.

Might as well give the kids a little cocaine and some strong Yarrow tea. Same effect.

Reverend Monkeypants: steverockson: Reverend Monkeypants: greenbowlpacker: ADHD - Made up by the drug companies, for the drug companies.

You explain that to my daughter whose life was literally changed by her medication. I wasn't a believer either, but I am now.

Ya know what happens when you give children drugs?
Their behavior changes!
WOW, what a farking revelation.
Grats on altering your offspring's personality forever.

But hey, if it's what you need to do to avoid disciplining your child then have at it.
Just drug the kid up and hypnotize them with a book or something.

You have no farking clue what you're talking about. We didn't get a chance to see her real personality until her disorder was treated.

Reverend Monkeypants: Too many people dont understand how these drugs work.

Might as well give the kids a little cocaine and some strong Yarrow tea. Same effect.

Not in someone who is actually ADD.

I think it is funny that you claim others don't understand something you clealy don't understand.

BeatrixK: FizixJunkee: Felgraf:

The best way I can describe it is it's not so much that I daydream, or that I can't pay attention to things. Rather, the problem is, to some extent, the opposite; I can't NOT pay attention to things. Without training and/or medication, *I could not block out external stimuli* well at ALL.


Exactly.

\nice to see another physics person with ADHD/ADD

Hi fellow ADHD'ers!

I have to explain that distinction all the time: It's not that I don't have enough attention: It's that I have so much that picking one particular thing to focus on becomes an almost impossible task.

I wasn't diagnosed until I was in my late 30's, and, until that time, I couldn't for the life of me understand certain things: Why crowds were so much more overwhelming to me than my friends. Why I HAVE to have a radio or TV on in the background when I do damned near anything, because I NEED that extra stimuli to intentionally filter out.

People often assume that ADHD means we are stripwaxing our floors at every opportunity and bouncing off the walls with internal energy, and it's SOOO not even close to that for many folks: My is ADHD: Predominately Inattentive. Not a thing to do with my energy level, and everything to do with the slighted distraction can veer me off on an attention tangent and getting back on focus is crazy difficult.

Yep, for the longest time I could not figure out how my kid could possibly study with music blaring in the background until she explained to me that all the little noises in the house were way more distracting than one big noise.

I'd be wary of having an ADD diagnosis on my medical records.

You never know how, or when that might come back to bite you on the ass.

If you really want to eliminate AD&D, do what my dad did. Master the art of the backhand with a lit cigarette. The shock factor is awesome once the ash blows in your eyes.

And imagine that, homework gets done.

It is not because more kids are diagnosed today as opposed to a couple generations ago. A couple generations ago, little Johnny lipped off and wouldn't shut up, he got smacked, and learned. Today a kid gets a medal, a self-esteem coupon, and some Ritalin.
South Park had it 100% right.

FizixJunkee: Mr. Right:
I know it's purely anecdotal, but a couple teachers I know have figured out that students whose parent's insurance covers the treatment or children who are on Medicaid are a lot more prone to have ADHD than children who don't have insurance coverage. Has anyone ever done a study on that aspect?

From the article:
"Higher rates of ADHD observed in affluent, white families likely represent an effort by these highly educated parents to seek help for their children who may not be fulfilling their expectations for schoolwork," Getahun and his co-workers write.

I'm sure that's true. But my teacher friends' observations have been that low-income children on Medicaid are more likely to be diagnosed than middle class kids whose insurance won't cover the prescriptions. But, as I said, purely anecdotal. Doesn't change the fact that every kid diagnosed with ADHD is a repeat customer for the doctors.

Mr. Right: FizixJunkee: Mr. Right:
I know it's purely anecdotal, but a couple teachers I know have figured out that students whose parent's insurance covers the treatment or children who are on Medicaid are a lot more prone to have ADHD than children who don't have insurance coverage. Has anyone ever done a study on that aspect?

From the article:
"Higher rates of ADHD observed in affluent, white families likely represent an effort by these highly educated parents to seek help for their children who may not be fulfilling their expectations for schoolwork," Getahun and his co-workers write.

I'm sure that's true. But my teacher friends' observations have been that low-income children on Medicaid are more likely to be diagnosed than middle class kids whose insurance won't cover the prescriptions. But, as I said, purely anecdotal. Doesn't change the fact that every kid diagnosed with ADHD is a repeat customer for the doctors.

Affluent white people are working, and don't have the time to deal with it, so they call it something, medicate it. Somebody has to pay for all the poor people's stuff.

MyRandomName: ManOfTeal: MyRandomName: ManOfTeal: steverockson: steverockson: MyRandomName: A disease created to justify bad children.

Amazing how everyone now has a disability. Nothing is our fault anymore.

Amazing how the 50s had 1% of the population classified disabled with the majority of work actually labor. And now we have 7%.

Astounding.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past. Excuse making is the new norm.

Reverend Monkeypants: Grats on altering your offspring's personality forever.

Change is good. Variety is the spice of life.

ManOfTeal: doczoidberg: greenbowlpacker: ADHD - Made up by the drug companies, for the drug companies.

As someone who was given Ritalin as a kid and told he had ADD, I agree with this statement.

Sure, the drug helps kids do better in school, but at what price?

Also, it should be noted that the drug would help ANYONE do better at school.

From what I understand, if you do not need the medication, it is just like taking speed. So basically, instead of helping you concentrate, you will be climbing the walls if you take ADHD meds like Ritalin and do not actually need them.

That's accurate. It completely and utterly slows me down to the point where I'm not a huge prick and can focus and be nice.

Anyone else I've known that has taken it is up cleaning for 12 hours straight or in my best friend's case, reading for 2 days.

I agree with a lot of people posting though that a lot of kids just aren't burning off their youthful energy. My wife is a teacher and I see / work with a lot of her kids and I can see the difference. A real ADD/ADHD kid eyes dart madly, or are in a fog, or run around like madmen. The kids who are just full of energy act so much differently.

Glockenspiel Hero: Sigh- I see the trolls are out in force.

As a parent to a severely ADHD kid, let me just say
1) It's real
2) It's a condition you're born with: it's not caused by (junk food|too much TV|Dr. Spock parenting|etc)
3) The drugs are a requirement to function: we'd much rather he never have to take another one.

You may now continue with your trolling

You should look at this article. Very interesting. Posted by a farker last week.

America's Real Criminal Element: Lead
New research finds Pb is the hidden villain behind violent crime, lower IQs, and even the ADHD epidemic.

A LOT of people showing their ignorance in this thread - it's been an enjoyable read. I'm at work and I enjoy the distraction.

megalynn44: doczoidberg: I'd be wary of having an ADD diagnosis on my medical records.

You never know how, or when that might come back to bite you on the ass.

That is called stigmatizing mental illness. I was diagnosed with ADD in elementary school and am always bemused by people who act like people with ADHD are mentally deficient. I was always in the honors classes and also was placed in the gifted program where we to skip regular class and pick special projects of our own interest to do for fun. Well over half the kids in my gifted class were also ADHD.

I suppose ADD can bite you in the ass in a corporate culture setting, but fark corporate culture.


I wouldn't want something like that on my medical records in case some kind of psychotropic drug registry is created by the authorities for any number of reasons.

Suppose they decide that it's not safe to let ADD people drive...or own guns?

I dunno. I admit I'm a bit paranoid, in general.

Okieboy: A LOT of people showing their ignorance in this thread - it's been an enjoyable read. I'm at work and I enjoy the distraction.

The whole thread started out just fine, and then the morons came out of nowhere.

doczoidberg: I wouldn't want something like that on my medical records in case some kind of psychotropic drug registry is created by the authorities for any number of reasons.

Suppose they decide that it's not safe to let ADD people drive...or own guns?

I dunno. I admit I'm a bit paranoid, in general.

What if you found out that 1,000 ADD and vehicle related deaths occur every year?

Okieboy: A LOT of people showing their ignorance in this thread - it's been an enjoyable read. I'm at work and I enjoy the distraction.

You can back me up when I say I was a huge ADHD skeptic until my own personal experience. These ignorant "you just aren't beating your kid enough" people should walk a mile in my shoes.

trappedspirit: doczoidberg: I wouldn't want something like that on my medical records in case some kind of psychotropic drug registry is created by the authorities for any number of reasons.

Suppose they decide that it's not safe to let ADD people drive...or own guns?

I dunno. I admit I'm a bit paranoid, in general.

What if you found out that 1,000 ADD and vehicle related deaths occur every year?

I would ask you to proove to me that ADD was the actual cause of the vehicle related deaths and not driving while also intoxicated/texting/eating/playing with audio knobs.

Good luck ruling ALL of those things out.

*Prove*

Why give kids drugs when you can just beat the shiat out of them?

Remember: Drugs = bad. Child abuse = good.

ManOfTeal: trappedspirit: doczoidberg: I wouldn't want something like that on my medical records in case some kind of psychotropic drug registry is created by the authorities for any number of reasons.

Suppose they decide that it's not safe to let ADD people drive...or own guns?

I dunno. I admit I'm a bit paranoid, in general.

What if you found out that 1,000 ADD and vehicle related deaths occur every year?

I would ask you to proove to me that ADD was the actual cause of the vehicle related deaths and not driving while also intoxicated/texting/eating/playing with audio knobs.

Good luck ruling ALL of those things out.

I think the best thing to do here would be to err on the side of safety. We have people diagnosed with an inability to stay focused on tasks operating vehicles weighing thousands of pounds and high velocities in populated areas. Specifically diagnosed to have a deficit in that area of function required to keep the streets from being safe one moment and turning into rivers of blood the next. Who do you want to have to die next just because we continue to allow these freedoms?