p99shooter Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Although my wife and I have known for a while that something was different with our son, the official diagnosis came in yesterday: ADHD combined type (hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive). ADHD isn't a death sentence, but the seriousness of it is still sinking in. It means years of committment and work to get through the school system, which is not set up for kids with ADHD. One psychologist made the analogy of ADHD kids and normal kids like being "hunters" vs. "farmers." Schools are set up for farmers, not hunters. Part of my hate is for those who think that ADHD is not a real disorder, and can simply be corrected with a good ass-whupin.' Well, that whupin may make you feel better, but it will do nothing for the child. Spanking is as effective at curing ADHD as it is diabetes or kidney diseases. Go take a look at the research of Richard LaVoie. Don't think that ADHD is "real"l? Study: Brains in ADHD Kids Mature Later Have a look at that time-lapse comparison between normal kids and kids with ADHD. If you still don't think it is real, sit down with an ADHD kid one night and do some homework with them. After about 2 hours of working on something that should only take 30 minutes, you'll think you're a shoe-in for the first American Saint. Think that schools just want all kids declared ADHD to they can have a bunch of easily-managed zombies and get more federal money? You couldn't be more wrong. ADHD medications don't make kids into zombies; it makes them normal, and the difference seems like they went from the Tasmanian Devil to Frankenstein. ADHD is not a recognized learning disability under Section 504 or the IDEA act, and response to learning disabilities is left up to individual school districts. I know parents of ADHD children that requested Section 504 accomidations from schools for their ADHD children, only to have the school put the children on half-time schedules. I guess that's it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bountyhunter Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Yep, the world is filled with morons like Tom Cruise who will pontificate that ADD doesn't exist, that it's all fake to sell drugs, etc.... the funny part is he clearly has it or something similar as exhibited by his bizarre behavior. Now that hes' rich and millions of people hang on his every word, he thinks he can "get even" with those doctors who tried to help him way back when. Of course, rich people are never LOONEY.... they are just charmingly eccentric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gameplayer Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 (edited) I know it's real. My sister's adopted son was diagnosed last year. I have seen her go through the aches and pains of trying to find a physician/therapist to find out the real problem. He, at the age of ten, knew that there was something wrong. He would often cry because he could not concentrate on his studies or the sports he participated in. He is now on medication and is fully able to concentrate on the things he does. Edited December 20, 2007 by GamePlayer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentlemanJim Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Yes its the real deal and its difficult to work through...but it can be done!! Some folks skoff because many kids that are just plain rowdy little brats are often mis labeled for what they are. The common misdiagnosis by inept doctors...and sometimes TEACHERS..can lead people astray. This just muddies the water for kids that really need help A good butt whuppin may adjust an obnoxious brat....but is NOT the way to address this problem!!! Its a tough road for parent and child....and I wish you the very best! Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Payne Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Too bad they weren't able to diagnose this years ago. Thank goodness my football coach noted the problem and put me at middle linebacker. Basic instructions before a game "just run all over and hit people". My mother often stated she wished there was "Ritalin" back then. Eleven kids in my family, she says she gave up on worrying about me getting myself killed when I was four years old. Figured if it was going to happen, not much she could do about it. Lots of "does not play well with others" and "does not pay attention in class" on my report cards. Just to add to the challenge. This does not always go away with age. I still have a little trouble sitting still long enough to concentrate on things (like at matches). Physical exertion always seemed the best remedy for me. My youngest son says I am like a big chihuahua on crack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p99shooter Posted December 20, 2007 Author Share Posted December 20, 2007 Thanks for the postive replies everyone. The way I feel about it is this: God made my son a little different than others. Not worse, just different. The public school system is not set up to work well for children like him. There are a lot of positive things about children with ADHD: creativity, energy, intelligence, drive. People with ADHD can excel in fields that require intense concentration for short period of time. A therapist told us in a group session that if you went to trauma centers and evaluated E.R. doctors, he would bet that a good percentage of them were ADHD. They can focus intensely enough for 5 minutes at a time to save lives. Put that same person into a familty medical practice, and they lose their minds. My focus as a parent will be to get my son through school as successfully as possible. I will not accept this diagnosis as defeat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeFoley Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 I must confess that I didn't think it was real for the most part until I got involved with a woman whose son had it. After the daily exposure of working with him, I agree with everything you said. It is real. It can be treated. It is not fully appreciated until you get on a personal level and are exposed to it. The trouble is that it is over-diagnosed. I wonder if a lot of people have it and never know, it may have always been. There are good medicines available to help kids with ADD/ADHD learn without being over medicated. There is still a lot of ignorance about it, but I no longer fall in that group, thankfully so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Your love and patience will go a very long way in helping out your son! In working with juveniles, some of the brightest and most gifted youth that I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with were ADHD...your son will no doubt be in that category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-Ho Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 I think too many frivolous diagnosis have soured many people to accepting ADHD. I've seen a diagnosis made out of convenience and the good ole fashioned whuppin' worked, BUT I do think that there are kids who have real problems. The over use of these drugs have made it harder for those kids and their parents. I wish you and your son good luck. Don't sweat those who tell you it's not real. If it helps your boy, go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck223 Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Try being a 41 year old adult with a kid newly diagnosed with ADHD combined type. Imagine going through the interview with the specialist and recounting your own childhood learning experinces. Visualize looking at the descriptions and definitions, and realizing that one describes you down to your socks. Then imagine trying to discuss this with a family practice doctor who figures if you're not a complete f*#k up in adulthood, you don't need help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbauer67 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I did not find out until my last 2 years of college that I have ADHD, being I'm 31 means I was never diagnosed with this as a child, and let me tell you I gave my parents a difficult time as a child. But there are a large number of adults who clearly suffer from the disorder, and once you understand the signs you will see others with the same traits. As a parent with a child, I urge you to use the medications with extreme caution. Each of the medications prescribed for ADHD have side effects, some posing serious risks, and each medication will affect your child in a different way. So you will need to experiment with several different ones. I have tried them all. For me personally the side effects out way the benefits of the medication, I have learned what my strengths are and areas where I will have to try extra hard to finish a certain task, or focus on a project. Feel free PM if you have any questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raz-0 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Yes its the real deal and its difficult to work through...but it can be done!! Some folks skoff because many kids that are just plain rowdy little brats are often mis labeled for what they are. The common misdiagnosis by inept doctors...and sometimes TEACHERS..can lead people astray. This just muddies the water for kids that really need help A good butt whuppin may adjust an obnoxious brat....but is NOT the way to address this problem!!! Its a tough road for parent and child....and I wish you the very best! Jim DING! DING! Although I won't blame incompetent doctors like you do. It's like people going to the doctors with a cold and wanting antibiotics. they won't do a viral infection a bit of good, but until the recent crop of multipe drug resistant strains of stuff, doctors would cave to get you to shut up and go away. You have a lot of parents with bratty kids who are that way because the parents don't want to put in the effort, and go to the doctor to get pills so they don't have to. And when the kid didn't have a problem, it does zombie them up a bit. With things like these, I think it helps a lot to realize EVERYONE has the problem to some degree. It's inherent in our brain chemistry, the "problem" arises when you have an imbalance, and the frequency and severity increase. For example dyslexia. Everyone runs into having to reread somethng to get it right now and then, or a strangely worded sentence that despite being grammatically correct is har to parse the first couple fo times. Same thing, except for you it happens every now and then. For a dyslexic kid, it's multiple times per page. For ADHD, it's kind of like when you have trouble focusing, sometimes you get up and take a quick walk or do some other activity that is in reality just soothing you for a moment in the face of some stress, and get back. For the ADHD kid, they have to keep doing this over and over and over because the problem is frequent. IMO putting up with things like that is easier if you can find the ability to identify with the problem, and those have worked for me with having to instruct some kids with issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin G. Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 It's good to hear that you are mentally preparing yourself for the inevitable difficulties you are going to face as a parent of one of us. I was diagnosed my last year in college and wish I had been earlier. After understanding what issues I needed to address specifically school became easy. I had always made an A or B in classes, but after getting medication and counseling/coaching on lifestyle changes suddenly getting a B was a disappointment, Deciding who is going to be his "coach" might be the hardest decision you will have to make. I know I gave my parents hell for 22 years. When I was diagnosed my mothers exact words were "That explains a lot" Try and keep up with the latest advances, old ideas about ADD/ADHD are proven wrong every year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ima45dv8 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 This Hate rant has turned into a discussion, which is beyond the bounds of the rules for the Hate Forum. Thus, it must be closed. Please review the Hate Forum Rules: http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8097 [note: this is a generic response] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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