I do plan to investigate non-medication methods to cope with my attention issues. I'm going to discuss with my C to find out about options. It is nice to know that meds exist that also might help if need be. But because of my personal medical history and the number of meds I already take, I would use ADD meds as a last resort.
I think there are probably a great deal of borderline ADD and ADHD cases in children that are considered problems more because the adults have trouble dealing with them. Also kids in general are not getting as much sleep, exercise and good nutrition which could also translate into behavior problems which end up being diagnosed as ADD or ADHD.
Absolutely! It's a particular issue with boys because they are much more likely to exhibit hyperactivity symptoms, even if they don't have ADHD at all. One problem is the current trend of educators to view girls' behavior and learning styles as the classroom "norm" and boys essentially as defective girls. Boys are prescribed ADD meds far more often than girls and often it is not because the boy has ADD, but because he is expected to behave like the "typical" girl who sits quietly and listens for long periods of time.
As the mom of a boy I found the book Raising Cain , which was referenced in the article, very interesting. I need to read that again.
Nutrition is definitely an issue. On a parenting board I've read posts from parents about how the proper balance of protein and carbs in the morning, for example, can make a HUGE difference in how their child functions in school.
Exercise is a big problem too, with more kids being bused to school now than ever, sedentary activities, little to no recess, etc.
The unfortunate fact is that parents are extremely busy and stretched thin, and school classrooms are large and often combine children of various levels of ability, which I think makes the teacher's job very difficult, so kids get put on drugs because it's a quick fix. Here in MA, children in the public schools must pass the Mass. Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test in grades 4, 8, and 10, so schools and parents will do whatever it takes to make sure the kids pass.
cac's cousin, J, teaches 7th grade math and has kids from three academic levels in his classes. The lower level kids are stuggling to keep up and the upper level kids are bored to death, and both of those groups contain kids with so-called "behavioral" problems because of the classroom situation. And it's J's responsibility to make sure that all those kids learn what they are supposed to learn. Crazy!
My friend has twin boys, age 9, who were diagnosed with ADHD. They were diagnosed through full neuropsych testing but their father was reluctant to medicate them. The boys received IEPs and both attended school initially without meds, but even with the IEP accomodations, they could not manage, so now they are medicated, but only for school. At first the boys took the med only before school and the parents hoped that would be sufficient, but now they need to take a second dose in the afternoon so they can get their homework done after school.
