Is ADHD a myth?

dissed doc

Valmont wrote: »

So in short, there is no way to objectively distinguish between 'real' ADHD and 'fake' ADHD except by training in the mysterious voodoo of psychiatry and 'just knowing' the difference? To everyone else, always be wary when the only argument the experts can provide is to respect their expertise and shut up!

There is no fake ADHD. The ADHD condition is diagnosed by people who have around 14 years of training to be able to make that diagnosis. Call it condition 43 or superdupersyndrome; if it's not diagnosed by a trained expert, then I question the validity of whatever is said to be "fake" this or that.

Either way, it's a collection of well recognised symptoms that were first described around 200 years ago. Long before we knew of antibiotics, we knew of hyperkinetic disorders. Maybe if the people you listened to actually knew this, it would help an impartial viewpoint.

I think by calling psychiatry voodoo, you've played your hand and revealed that you cannot be impartial on this discussion. No-one is making you listen to any psychiatrist. You are completely free to make up your own mind. Me? I would listen to the person trained for over decade in the area, rather than someone with nothing but an opinion. No-one said to "shut up" but quite frankly, there is a reason there are expert opinions (who then carry the responsibility for the consequences of that) and there are just opinions, where the person is in no way responsible.

As you are all set to do an anti-psychiatry stance in general, you are now completely free to have all your opinions that you want. Bigots with prejudices rarely are objective. You won't have to stand behind a diagnosis, do 14 years of training and have medical council (run by non-doctors) ensure what you are doing is ethical and well-evidenced.

You just have to have no experience and say "it's all fake". No consequences, no help for anyone, just an opinion. You are completely free to have it.

Agus

Valmont wrote: »

Thankfully we know that if a blood test is conducted and delivered to a pathologist they will be able objectively verify the presence of the flu virus. Mental illnesses, being metaphorical, don't have this quality and their presence or absence rests exclusively on the opinion of a clinician.

Appealing to authority is not an adequate substitute for an argument. I would ask you to tell us what these highly trained psychiatrists know that we don't but I know you don't have an answer.

So in short, there is no way to objectively distinguish between 'real' ADHD and 'fake' ADHD except by training in the mysterious voodoo of psychiatry and 'just knowing' the difference? To everyone else, always be wary when the only argument the experts can provide is to respect their expertise and shut up!

There is more and more research out there showing objective physically measurable changes in the brains of people with mental illnesses. This is not yet at a stage where it is part of routine clinical practice or where we could just do a scan and have a definite answer to all diagnostic questions, but certainly there is evidence that mental illnesses are more than "metaphorical" as you put it. In the case of ADHD, the FDA has actually recently approved the first medical device based on measuring brain function to help assess potential cases of ADHD. It involves EEG recordings of brain waves.

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm360811.htm?source=govdelivery

byhookorbycrook

Primary Learning Support teacher here. Yes, ADHD exists. Kids are like springer spaniels flitting from a to b and on to x,y,z . Many children with ADHD are well behaved, just need movement breaks and an understanding teacher.
There are children diagnosed with ADHD that certainly don't have it, both mammy/daddy and child need to cop on. The problem is that there is no "test" it is diagnosed using a rating scale where some parents are less than honest. These are the people giving ADHD a bad name.

Gatling

I wonder how high the diagnosis of ADHD compared with emotionally disturbed kids and teens ,
Out there or us the latter even acknowledged here

dissed doc

Valmont wrote: »

Appealing to authority is not an adequate substitute for an argument. I would ask you to tell us what these highly trained psychiatrists know that we don't but I know you don't have an answer.

They are the experts and take 14 years to be able to stand behind what is and is not a diagnosis.

They know all about mental health and diagnosis and treatment. That is what they know that we don't. If you want to know what precisely these things are, study medicine, then specialise in psychiatry and then subspecialise in child psychiatry. After 14 years you can come back on here and tell us what obviously can be summed up in a simple post.

Hitchens

dissed doc wrote: »

They are the experts and take 14 years to be able to stand behind what is and is not a diagnosis.

They know all about mental health and diagnosis and treatment. That is what they know that we don't. If you want to know what precisely these things are, study medicine, then specialise in psychiatry and then subspecialise in child psychiatry. After 14 years you can come back on here and tell us what obviously can be summed up in a simple post.

I'm not saying you're right or wrong about ADHD, but the use of the word 'experts' always gives me the collywobbles.

It was 'experts' who designed, built and sailed the Titanic, ..........oh and predicted the 'soft landing' too.

Valmont

dissed doc wrote: »

There is no fake ADHD. The ADHD condition is diagnosed by people who have around 14 years of training to be able to make that diagnosis. Call it condition 43 or superdupersyndrome; if it's not diagnosed by a trained expert, then I question the validity of whatever is said to be "fake" this or that.

These experts you are referring to are only experts in recognising a very specific pattern of behaviours that other experts have decided to call ADHD. It doesn't matter how long they train for, there is still no objective basis for trying to say ADHD is a discrete illness or that the behaviours which comprise it are caused by a brain disease. The whole model is arbitrary.

dissed doc wrote: »

Either way, it's a collection of well recognised symptoms that were first described around 200 years ago.

Strictly speaking, there are no symptoms of ADHD. Symptoms are simply subjective complaints made by patient which may or may not indicate the presence of a disease. Children don't complain that they have too much energy. Signs, on the other hand, are phenomena perceived by the clinician which, again, may or may not indicate the presence of a disease. It's well recognised that people complain of being broke but calling it a symptom does make it part of disease.

Disseddoc wrote:

You just have to have no experience and say "it's all fake". No consequences, no help for anyone, just an opinion. You are completely free to have it.

No help for anyone? No consequences? What do you mean? I don't accept the term 'anti-psychiatry', you wouldn't call a chemist an anti-alchemist, after all.

Valmont

dissed doc wrote: »

They are the experts and take 14 years to be able to stand behind what is and is not a diagnosis.

You're beginning to sound like an evangelist. A diagnosis is an opinion on the possible cause of certain signs and symptoms manifest in a patient. If someone complains of shortness of breath and a pain in their chest, the doctor may diagnose them as having pneumonia which may or not be correct based the results of an objective pathological test. Psychiatrists, on the other hand, agree in unison that the co-occurrence of certain behaviours is called ADHD and start diagnosing without the inconvenience of having to refer to actual scientific pathology. Yes, there is plenty of research trying to find the biological 'causes' of mental illnesses but I won't hold my breath if only because if they are found then the real doctors will jump in and the mental health workers will be out of a job.

A diagnosis is not the same thing as a disease. You would think after fourteen long hard years in the cloisters some of the psychiatrists would have picked up that staple of medical students, Robbin's pathology, and grasped this simple fact. Please come back with an argument this time rather than telling me to ignore reason and criticism and simply trust the well-trained voodoo superiors.

stpaddy99

I hate this labelling. it also stops anyone actually criticizng or discussing misbehaviour for fear of crossing the endless politcally correct barriers. I also do not believe drugs and pills are the answer in many of these cases. n doubt the food diets affects this as does health, education, parenting and lifestyles.

dissed doc

Valmont wrote: »

You're beginning to sound like an evangelist. A diagnosis is an opinion on the possible cause of certain signs and symptoms manifest in a patient. If someone complains of shortness of breath and a pain in their chest, the doctor may diagnose them as having pneumonia which may or not be correct based the results of an objective pathological test. Psychiatrists, on the other hand, agree in unison that the co-occurrence of certain behaviours is called ADHD and start diagnosing without the inconvenience of having to refer to actual scientific pathology. Yes, there is plenty of research trying to find the biological 'causes' of mental illnesses but I won't hold my breath if only because if they are found then the real doctors will jump in and the mental health workers will be out of a job.

A diagnosis is not the same thing as a disease. You would think after fourteen long hard years in the cloisters some of the psychiatrists would have picked up that staple of medical students, Robbin's pathology, and grasped this simple fact. Please come back with an argument this time rather than telling me to ignore reason and criticism and simply trust the well-trained voodoo superiors.

I said only about who can make a diagnosis, and who can say with confidence when something is not a diagnosis.

I cannot explain what "psychiatrist voodoo knows" to the post above.

So, who is qualified to make a diagnosis? As far as I am concerned and from the Medical Practitioners Act, the law allows for medical specialists to make diagnoses. There is no real margin of error here so a gut feeling based on the Internet School of Medicine that someone has or is not a diagnosis is not good enough. The standard is long since yet, the condition is recognised since before the X-Ray was invented, and (with good reason) establishing a diagnosis is legally restricted to people trained extensively in the area due to the dangers or non-professionals attempting to diagnose people without training. The training is the way it is based on the development of the understanding of the condition which started over 200 years ago

So, debates about it being a disease or not, or anti-psychiatry or not, are completely outside the scope of what I was writing about.

Someone wanted to know what psychiatrists know to make the diagnosis. The answer is you need to have medical, psychiatry and child psychiatry training. Now what that involves, as it takes around 14 years to so, is not going to be packaged up in a single answer. Seeing as the same poster called psychiatry voodoo, I think they have already amde up their mind.

Debating symptoms, disease, diagnosis and what they mean is a completely different discussion. Condition/disease/syndrome/disorder: there are specific medical definitions of these. They are also just words for somebody to use who is not medically trained. Likewise, depression is a specific diagnose, and yet also just a word that people casually use. Attention-Deficit is a specific disorder, and yet concentration problems is also just a description that may no be a disorder. There is no point arguing semantics. There is a reference point and definition of each of these words and the meaning varies. When a psychiatrist says ADHD they mean the diagnosis. When someone untrained says ADHD they may mean behaviour problems, not getting on at school, being bold, or also they mean the diagnosis.

Mint Aero

I'm in my 20's and can't concentrate on nothing. Can I get some Adhd drugs?

Femme_Fatale

Mint Aero wrote: »

I'm in my 20's and can't concentrate on nothing. Can I get some Adhd drugs?

There's a fair bit more to it I'd say.

I wouldn't say that it doesn't exist but I do think it's incorrectly used as a medical label for scumbaggery in many cases.

Mint Aero

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

There's a fair bit more to it I'd say.

What's that supposed to mean

Jimoslimos

bootybouncer wrote: »

Come back to me when you have a child with aspergers syndrome or autism

What a peculiar thing to say. I wouldn't wish any parent to have a child with an intellectual disability, but that's the stigma here. Every parent reckons their children are special and talented in some way - it's far easier to convey that with a diagnosis of autism or Asperger's than mild intellectual disability or learning difficulty.

I also find "high-functioning autism" to be an insulting term to others with learning difficulties. It screams "my child is special and needs extra attention...but don't class him (and it's usually boys) with the stupid kids". Or the myth peddled that it somehow is accompanied by a prodigious talent in something else.

clairefontaine wrote: »

On the other hand, there are FIVE boys in the first grade with learning problems. That seems like an awufully high percentage. Five out of 12 boys. I commented to the teacher that seems like an awfully high percentage of the class and she assured me that was about normal.

Statistically speaking around 5/12 boys would be below average in learning ability in a class. But I think this highlights the problem, "below average" has become to mean "abnormal".

Fandango

Dunno if it has been posted but interesting watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8k0iw1Kon4

Dont think its a myth but definitely misdiagnosed. Sad for the kids who actually have it as they are probably seen by most as a just misbehaving and acting the *&^%.

Bogan

I've always known it was poor parenting and like a lot of other "mental illness" the symptoms can apply to anyone. People are so self-obsessed that they read something and notice a few symptoms and then run to their Doctor for pills and all the Doctors are doing is carrying out experiments because none of this nonsense has ever been proven in the first place. It's theories and nothing more.

billie1b

I thought the guy that was founder of the diagnosia of ADHD confessed on his death bed that him and his friend, thats in the Pharmacutical business made it all up to make money and that it doesn't actually exist

grizzly

They are putting the current percentage of children suffering ADHD at 11% of 4-17 year olds in the US. I am sure some of these kids have some unique neurological condition, but 1 in 10?

It sounds more like a good excuse for lazy parenting. In many cases children are being put on Adderall not because their behaviour is disruptive, but their academic performance is poor. Some kids just aren't blessed with brains, but their parents can't accept this.

aidan24326

dissed doc wrote: »

There is no fake ADHD. The ADHD condition is diagnosed by people who have around 14 years of training to be able to make that diagnosis. Call it condition 43 or superdupersyndrome; if it's not diagnosed by a trained expert, then I question the validity of whatever is said to be "fake" this or that..

Sorry doc but appealing to authority is not a good way to make your argument. Just because a psychiatrist (or any other professional) has x years of training does not mean they're right about everything.

ADHD is a dubious diagnosis at best, totally made-up psychobabble at worst, and really just another excuse to prescribe pills.

LoonyLovegood

I've spent enough time around two of my cousins, both of whom were diagnosed with ADHD. One of them has attention that just flits from thing to thing. He's five, he'll colour in a picture for five minutes, go play with a toy for a couple more, and do something else straight after. He just can't keep his attention on anything, but he is generally well behaved when he has his attention on something. He just needs to be reminded every few minutes to keep his attention on something.

The other is thirteen and a terror. He has no attention span unless he's playing a video game. He screams, yells, and physically threatens women when there's no men around. He's hit me and my sister, threatened his own mother with a knife. There's something wrong with him, but I don't think it's ADHD.

Now, I could be completely wrong and they could just be on different ends of the "spectrum", if you will. But their behaviours are just so different I can't see that.

kidneyfan

Chancer3001 wrote: »

Just a label for misbehaving kids.

Has to be a reason for misbehaving.

Can't be bold child or bad parenting.

South Park did a brilliant episode on this. Some guy discovered the cure for ADHD. It was slapping a kid who misbehaved.

That might not be as funny as it sounds. Children can be controlled through fear and that fear can keep them non disruptive.
Also nicotine is helpful in treating the symptoms of ADHD and the collapse in smoking rates (especially at work) may well have something to do with an increase in adults self reporting ADHD.

We know it isn't a myth because it responds to medicine. People with ADHD are calmed by stimulants.

ceadaoin.

grizzly wrote: »

It sounds more like a good excuse for lazy parenting. In many cases children are being put on Adderall not because their behaviour is disruptive, but their academic performance is poor. Some kids just aren't blessed with brains, but their parents can't accept this.

I read an article about doctors prescribing ADHD drugs off label to enhance academic performance. Why would you give your kids strong medication like this just so they get good grades? There are some seriously selfish parents out there. These drugs have only been in use for a relatively short time so the long term effects are unknown.

wretcheddomain

CTYIgirl wrote: »

I've spent enough time around two of my cousins, both of whom were diagnosed with ADHD. One of them has attention that just flits from thing to thing. He's five, he'll colour in a picture for five minutes, go play with a toy for a couple more, and do something else straight after. He just can't keep his attention on anything, but he is generally well behaved when he has his attention on something. He just needs to be reminded every few minutes to keep his attention on something.

The other is thirteen and a terror. He has no attention span unless he's playing a video game. He screams, yells, and physically threatens women when there's no men around. He's hit me and my sister, threatened his own mother with a knife. There's something wrong with him, but I don't think it's ADHD.

Now, I could be completely wrong and they could just be on different ends of the "spectrum", if you will. But their behaviours are just so different I can't see that.

A symptom does not a disorder make.

We have to accept that children are already very erratic as it is and if there are a few children outside this already erratic norm then they should be considered just that. There's no need for labels and no need for a disorder in the same way you can't make a disorder out of caffeine withdrawal based on its temporary symptoms. But if you say this to the DSM about the caffeine withdrawal they'll speak from authority rather than engage with the realities of the situation.

ceadaoin.

kidneyfan wrote: »

That might not be as funny as it sounds. Children can be controlled through fear and that fear can keep them non disruptive.

Yes, I'm sure that controlling children through fear will create perfectly normal, functional human beings with no issues whatsoever

wretcheddomain

ceadaoin. wrote: »

Yes, I'm sure that controlling children through fear will create perfectly normal, functional human beings with no issues whatsoever

Same rhetoric could be said for stimulants...

Ave Sodalis

kidneyfan wrote: »

That might not be as funny as it sounds. Children can be controlled through fear and that fear can keep them non disruptive.
Also nicotine is helpful in treating the symptoms of ADHD and the collapse in smoking rates (especially at work) may well have something to do with an increase in adults self reporting ADHD.

We know it isn't a myth because it responds to medicine. People with ADHD are calmed by stimulants.

Children controlled by fear, live their lives through fear and later use fear to deal with things. Fear is not a way to control children. It does not work. No-one, neither human nor animal can learn when they are afraid.

The medication people with ADHD are put on would numb anyone. That's a terrible argument. I wouldn't consider myself having ADHD but I know if I was given that medication, it would have the same effect on me.

kidneyfan

sup_dude wrote: »

Children controlled by fear, live their lives through fear and later use fear to deal with things. Fear is not a way to control children. It does not work. No-one, neither human nor animal can learn when they are afraid.

The medication people with ADHD are put on would numb anyone. That's a terrible argument. I wouldn't consider myself having ADHD but I know if I was given that medication, it would have the same effect on me.

We can and do learn when we are afraid. Fear is a potent motivator.

Ave Sodalis

kidneyfan wrote: »

We can and do learn when we are afraid. Fear is a potent motivator.

Whilst in fear, we learn nothing.
Potent motivator, yes. Positive, no. Fear has too many side effects, especially for these kids that it will do nothing except put them backwards.

anncoates

wretcheddomain wrote: »

A symptom does not a disorder make.

We have to accept that children are already very erratic as it is and if there are a few children outside this already erratic norm then they should be considered just that. There's no need for labels and no need for a disorder in the same way you can't make a disorder out of caffeine withdrawal based on its temporary symptoms. But if you say this to the DSM about the caffeine withdrawal they'll speak from authority rather than engage with the realities of the situation.

So if your child demonstrated some of the behaviour described (by people with actual experience of the matter) in this thread, you'd vbe happy to view it as normal childhood behaviour and accept it even later into their lives?

bnt

I thought it interesting to note that French kids don't have ADHD, apparently:

As a therapist who works with children, it makes perfect sense to me that French children don't need medications to control their behavior because they learn self-control early in their lives. The children grow up in families in which the rules are well-understood, and a clear family hierarchy is firmly in place. In French families, as Druckerman describes them, parents are firmly in charge of their kids—instead of the American family style, in which the situation is all too often vice versa.

clairefontaine

bnt wrote: »

I thought it interesting to note that French kids don't have ADHD, apparently:

French kids also have a lot less crap in their foods and get the crap beaten out of them at home.

Hitchens

clairefontaine wrote: »

French kids also have a lot less crap in their foods and get the crap beaten out of them at home.

but the wine with dinner?..........maybe with antifreeze added!

Femme_Fatale

Chancer3001 wrote: »

Just a label for misbehaving kids.

Has to be a reason for misbehaving.

Can't be bold child or bad parenting.

South Park did a brilliant episode on this. Some guy discovered the cure for ADHD. It was slapping a kid who misbehaved.

What's your childhood psychology/psychiatry/neurology qualification seeing as you're so sure it's not real and just a label for misbehaving kids?

Muise...

clairefontaine wrote: »

French kids also have a lot less crap in their foods and get the crap beaten out of them at home.

so they really really couldn't give a crap?

ceadaoin.

wretcheddomain wrote: »

Same rhetoric could be said for stimulants...

Personally, I agree that giving stimulants, or any type of behaviour modifying drug, to children is not good and will have long term effects. I hate the whole 'pills cure all' culture which I see daily living in the US. Absolutely, if a child displays severe symptoms which are indicative of ADHD then pills can be used as a last resort. However it does seem that these pills are prescribed a bit too freely.

Femme_Fatale

ceadaoin. wrote: »

Personally, I agree that giving stimulants, or any type of behaviour modifying drug, to children is not good and will have long term effects. I hate the whole 'pills cure all' culture which I see daily living in the US. Absolutely, if a child displays severe symptoms which are indicative of ADHD then pills can be used as a last resort. However it does seem that these pills are prescribed a bit too freely.

Oh yeh they definitely should be the very last resort. And as far as I know, mild ADHD can be managed without drugs.

It's a complex situation though; case by case. The "It's not real" or "It's always real" reasonings are pointless.

Hitchens

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Oh yeh they definitely should be the very last resort. And as far as I know, mild ADHD can be managed without drugs.

It's a complex situation though; case by case. The "It's not real" or "It's always real" reasonings are pointless.

just a thought, how would mild ADHD be distinguishable from just a lively and outgoing child?

Femme_Fatale

Hitchens wrote: »

just a thought, how would mild ADHD be distinguishable from just a lively and outgoing child?

Well if people think of it in those terms, no wonder people are skeptical about it.
ADHD is extreme hyperactivity, impulsivity and destructiveness.

Hitchens

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

ADHD is extreme hyperactivity, impulsivity and destructiveness.

Yes, but what then is mild (your word) ADHD?

zanador

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Well if people think of it in those terms, no wonder people are skeptical about it.
ADHD is extreme hyperactivity, impulsivity and destructiveness.

ADHD/ADD is actually just the inability to concentrate. Often it comes with symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity etc. Destructiveness is NOT a symptom of ADHD, although children with aDHD can become destructive.

Hitchens wrote: »

Yes, but what then is mild (your word) ADHD?

Mild ADHD are children who can't concentrate but perhaps can control impulses. They can 'grow out of it' (I'm sceptical, I think they just learn coping mechanisms).

Once the correct discipline structures are in place then some children can be managed very effectively with no medication - I manage my son fine with no meds at home. School could probably manage him better to be honest, but they don't so he has a low dose of short acting ritalin once a day. It is in and out of his system in 3 hours and gets him through the tough part of the school day. I didn't want to give it to him - and was never pressured too - but he was struggling emotionally with dealing with his adhd and the ritalin has helped him calm down, be more socially aware, do better academically, and all those things have made him much more emotionally stable. So, it is worth it for us and he can still learn coping mechanisms in the times he is not medicated.

He is diagnosed as severely ADHD because of his concentration issues, but has no behavioural issues and is definitely not destructive.

foggy_lad

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Primary Learning Support teacher here. Yes, ADHD exists. Kids are like springer spaniels flitting from a to b and on to x,y,z . Many children with ADHD are well behaved, just need movement breaks and an understanding teacher.
There are children diagnosed with ADHD that certainly don't have it, both mammy/daddy and child need to cop on. The problem is that there is no "test" it is diagnosed using a rating scale where some parents are less than honest. These are the people giving ADHD a bad name.

The extra benefits and free travel are very handy! for many parents well worth labelling one child as abnormal.

Karsini wrote: »

I wouldn't say that it doesn't exist but I do think it's incorrectly used as a medical label for scumbaggery in many cases.

I think there is a lack of discipline and respect for authority in kids from a very young age which leads to a certain level of acting out and loud violent abusive behaviour. There are far more single parent families than 20 years ago and now a father can be arrested or at least taken for questioning if seen by some busybody slapping his "bold" child in the street.

Years ago we were all thought about respect and discipline from a very young age and very few had ADHD ADD or any other new "condition". If we as children crossed a line we got told off and if we continued to cross the line we got more severly punished which could be a slap or worse being stopped from doing something we wanted to do, Nowadays parents wont even take a playstation away for a few hours or take the television out of the bedroom or take the mobile phone or tablet away.

Children have the upper hand and well they know it!

anto3473

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Maybe if some parents gave their child a Carrot instead a bottle of Coke Cola then maybe we would have hyper little devil children running around.

Absolute nonsense. There are physiological differences and differences in neutral development which can be demonstrated on fMRI, a clear difference between people with ADHD and others with continuous performance tests and a number of other means it can be demonstrated to be an actual thing. The diet thing doesn't change anything, medication works, and it's safe. It was my parents attitude like that made my life un-necessarily hard as a kid.

When I can't read stuff clearly I wear reading glasses, when I need to focus properly I take Ritalin.

ADHD is absolutely a real thing, trying twice as hard as your peers to achieve half the results all your life is frustrating enough without people telling you to cop on and not drink caffeine and be grand. (Even when they mean well).

I can say this as a medical scientist and someone with ADHD that knows a good few other adults with the disorder, it is real, we are different in specific ways from the majority of the population and the world we live in is not designed for people with ADHD but there are certain areas of society where people with ADHD do quite well in, usually fast paced jobs like paramedics, and jobs that involve risk like entrepreneurs (Richard Brandon for instance).

We're not lazy or thick,we just think differently

anto3473

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Maybe if some parents gave their child a Carrot instead a bottle of Coke Cola then maybe we would have hyper little devil children running around.

Absolute nonsense. There are physiological differences and differences in neutral development which can be demonstrated on fMRI, a clear difference between people with ADHD and others with continuous performance tests and a number of other means it can be demonstrated to be an actual thing. The diet thing doesn't change anything, medication works, and it's safe. It was my parents attitude like that made my life un-necessarily hard as a kid.

When I can't read stuff clearly I wear reading glasses, when I need to focus properly I take Ritalin.

ADHD is absolutely a real thing, trying twice as hard as your peers to achieve half the results all your life is frustrating enough without people telling you to cop on and not drink caffeine and be grand. (Even when they mean well).

I can say this as a medical scientist and someone with ADHD that knows a good few other adults with the disorder, it is real, we are different in specific ways from the majority of the population and the world we live in is not designed for people with ADHD but there are certain areas of society where people with ADHD do quite well in, usually fast paced jobs like paramedics, and jobs that involve risk like entrepreneurs (Richard Brandon for instance).

We're not lazy or thick,we just think differently

anto3473

One poster also mentioned that people purposely get their kids diagnosed... To get free travel... Hmm i still pay for the bus - I'm missing something..., had to pay €1200 for re a diagnosis as an adult or wait God knows how long on the medical card which I was on at the time....

The testing takes a full day with a shrink and a specialist psychologist... Faking it? Entirely possible..

NOT!

The misbehaviour is all to do with frustration, imagine never getting a moments peace because your brain won't shut the hell up, ever.... You'll lash out in some way unless you are thought how to properly deal with the lot you've been dealt. I wouldn't expect the average parent to know how to deal with ADHD without guidance from a professional

Tony EH

ADHD exists, but not in the way that the (30 trillion dollar a year) Psychiatric business tells you.

ADHD, like many other labels (including small d "depression") is massively over diagnosed, especially in the US, and is "medicated" in the most abhorrent (and quite dangerous) way.

Have a read about the anti-psychiatry movement. It's a real eye opener.

Years ago, medication and psychotropic drugs were rare for people who were suffering bouts of "depression" and non-existent for difficult children.

Nowadays, it takes a few minutes to be "diagnosed" with ADHD and passed Ritalin, or get told you're "suffering" from "depression" and thrown some Lithium.

Don't get me wrong, mental disorders, like clinical Depression (capital D) exist in some people. But it certainly DOES NOT exist in the manner, and to the extent, that a lot of people have come to accept these days. There's scarcely anyone today that doesn't know someone that's been diagnosed as "depressed" and put on some sort of psychotropic drug.

Psychiatry is supposed to be a talking solution. Working out problems by discussion and behaviour modification. It was never supposed to be an offshoot for pharmaceutical business.

Thanks America.

Chairman Meow

Jimoslimos wrote: »

I would agree to a large extent, add Asperger Syndrome to the list as well.

Why the need to medicalise what are simply differences in ability or personality? Should those who aren't good at sports be routinely prescribed anabolic steroids and HGH?

I have to say, aspergers is another one of those syndromes that seems to have come out of nowhere and now all of a sudden every kid under the sun is being diagnosed with it. I seems to be used to label any kid whos a bit awkward or introverted

Femme_Fatale

Chairman Meow wrote: »

I have to say, aspergers is another one of those syndromes that seems to have come out of nowhere and now all of a sudden every kid under the sun is being diagnosed with it. I seems to be used to label any kid whos a bit awkward or introverted

What?!

"Every kid under the sun"...

Christ, the shyte on this thread. "I have no scientific background and don't want to accept/understand something so I'll claim it's not true, based on nothing other than a hunch..." :rolleyes:

Gehad_JoyRider

Hi, I have ADD, not ADHD, from the age of about 5 people said there were was something wrong with me. But no one knew what, at the age of 16 I was diagnosed Dyslexia, finally a teacher with half a brain spotted it when I was writing french and Irish in an English essay. But it was too late I left schol.

I started back in college doing a degree with honors 4 years ago and my learning style was tested. As well as other things they found that my learning style was kinesthetic. After more test they found I was indeed a person in his late 20s which adhd as well

I do really annoying things like bounce my right knee up and down on the ball of my foot. Or when I'm trying to remember something I have to pace there's a logic to my pacing its really weird I find when I'm doing something in work I listen to really crappy poppy music on you tube because it helps me focus at one given task...

Other thing that no one seems to posts about is, diet I believe a lot of kids are nut case's because of there diet, Coke, stinger bars, jelly beans, cola bottles, cheep crappy meals with additives list that are as long as my arm, ever take a walk down some isle in Tescos its just an isle of complete ****. Hi sugar concentrated crap that doesn't help any ones concentration levels.

I drink 1 or two cups of coffee a day Ginger and lemon tea, water or fruit juice I eat tons of veg meet, nuts, dark chocolate and try to avoid eating the crap most of us see. Honestly I think my over all concentration is better. Since I've changed my diet.

Yes i do think add,adhd exists but cant help but think its down to the childs diet I cant help but think some parents are lazy and treat there children more like a pain in there side then be more proactive with them..

Chairman Meow

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

What?!

"Every kid under the sun"...

Christ, the shyte on this thread. "I have no scientific background and don't want to accept/understand something so I'll claim it's not true, based on nothing other than a hunch..." :rolleyes:

And you do have a scientific background in this? Im so sorry Professor science, i didnt realize, i withdraw everything i said in light of that conclusive rolleyes emoticon you just posted.