Title: ADHD
Post by: peterb on May 29, 2003, 06:41:35 PM
There's no doubt that some medical conditions get a very bad press. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, or Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD, as it is often more widely called) is one of them.
Misconception does a lot of harm
Media reports are mostly to blame for the frequently held misperception of ADHD as a trendy diagnosis imported from America to excuse a modern epidemic of appalling behaviour among children who haven't been parented properly. The popular perception is that as a last ditch resort parents turn to controlling these children with powerful and potentially dangerous stimulant medicines such as Ritalin, so allowing the parents to return to their gin and tonics.
This wildly inaccurate view does enormous harm, especially to those families trying to cope with a child who is different to the average but whom, with the right help and encouragement, may achieve just as much with their lives. The result is that many children with ADHD are not diagnosed, while those who are may be stigmatised and may not get the treatment that could help them. This may mean that in adult life they are unfulfilled, unemployed and unhappy. However, many people with ADHD manage to channel their energies (usually with help) with dramatic success - many of the world's great high flyers and entrepreneurs have ADHD.
Myths must be cleared up
A recent review of ADHD in the British Medical Journal suggested that 3 aspects of ADHD needed to be swept of myths and misconceptions:
What is ADHD?
ADHD has nothing to do with having bad parents - high tech brain scanning tests show that it is an inherited problem with how the brain works.
Is it simply hyperactivity?
No, hyperactivity is just one possible feature of the disorder, and not all children have this.
Are the drugs used in treatment dangerous?
No. The drugs, especially stimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), are an essential part of a combination of treatments, see the guidance from NICE at www.nice.org.uk/nice-web/Article.asp?a=11683. They are very effective in improving concentration and impulsiveness and reducing hyperactivity. Side effects are usually relatively minor, and research shows that worries about addiction, or growth suppression are unfounded.
Get a full explanation from the views of one expert at: www.bmj.com(make sure you read the letters which follow in response to this article as they contain valid criticism) or check the facts in Box 1.
How would you know that your child had ADHD?
Top Tips
Is there someone else in the family with similar behaviour? ADHD is inherited.
Being hyperactive is what small children do. Don't confuse the busyness of the terrible 2's and 3's with the symptoms of ADHD.
If you're uncertain, seek a range of opinions. ADHD is full of disagreement at every turn.
Humour and optimism and vital coping skills which cannot be bought: learn how to grow your own.
See ADHD as not a disease but simply the far edge of a vast spectrum of behaviour, with aspects such as drive, determination and single-mindedness which can be turned to advantage in adult life.
It's very difficult to draw the line between a very active but normal child , and one with mild ADHD. Perhaps one of the best guides is when a particular behaviour is becoming a persistent problem.
The core behaviours to look out for are:
Inattentiveness: Gets bored easily, goes from task to task without finishing anything, poor short term memory.
Impulsiveness: acts without thinking, frequent accidents, has a 'short fuse'.
Hyperactivity: restless, fidgety, rarely sits still for long.
Other typical behaviours:
Insatiability: goes on and on and on about a matter.
Social clumsiness.
Physical clumsiness.
Disorganisation.
Enormous fluctuations in performance and mood.
Extreme sensitivity and poor self esteem.
A complex problem
ADHD is a complex problem - there are a variety of different types and the condition may include language and learning problems. In a few children it co-exists with one of two serious psychiatric disorders, known as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder (CD), which can cause immense disruption in an already disturbed life.
Raising a child with ADHD makes huge demands on personal resources. Share your experiences with other parents at www.addcontact.org.uk or get your child with ADHD busy in the Zoom Section at ADDNet UK.
Find info and news at ADDNet UK News.
Further information available from The National Attention Disorder Information and Support Service: www.addiss.co.uk
Facts about ADHD
As many as 1 in 100 children in the UK are severely affected. Many more may be mildly affected.
Boys tend to be more often affected. But girls can get ADHD too - there's a web resource specially for them at www.addvance.com.
It is not a problem of bad parenting. However, ADHD children are more likely to come from dysfunctional families. The inherited nature of ADHD may explain this - parents may have undiagnosed ADHD too.
ADHD is caused by a minor dysfunction in the normal brain which causes the child to become overloaded with information which it can't filter.
ADHD can cause problems throughout school and into adult life - as many as 60% of children still show ADHD behaviour in adulthood.
There is no single test for ADHD, which can make it difficult to diagnose.
Diet doesn't cause ADHD but may help in treatment, have a look at www.feingold.org/2englishhome.html
Treatment ranges from behavioural techniques and stimulant medication, to stress management and educational support.
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Title: Re:ADHD
Post by: fishs on May 30, 2003, 07:06:59 AM
:hi:
Good Subject to raise here Peter..
I have serious reservations on this whole ADHO subject and in particular this deadly drug Ritilin being given to Kids ..
This problem throws up some serious questioning .. This was not a problem all that long ago .. and from what I am hearing over and over again when I am researching for various articles is one key point time and time again..
Are Doctors lulling parents into a false sense of security here in an attempt to quelling parents frustrations down by suggesting that ok seems like ADHO lets give little Johnny Ritilin and see how that goes .. When in fact the real problem may well be something entirely different ..
I have just finished an article on Immunisation and Inocculations re children and This ADHO debate and its possible causes or not surfaced time and time again ...
I am going to go back over my notes and have a good look and put something together for you all to comment on asap..
Fish
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Title: Re:ADHD
Post by: Val on May 30, 2003, 11:02:01 AM
I'm very surprised that 'hyperactive' children are also being labelled as having ADHD as well. ???
From personal experience I know that this is not necessarily so. Our eldest was diagnosed back in the 70’s as being hyperactive he did not have a lack of attention though. He would carry out tasks to the end, such as reading, watching the telly, doing a drawing etc. he would not be still while doing these things though. There would always be some movement, maybe a foot tapping or a knee on the move, or some other type of movement. The main problem was that he just didn't sleep much, usually only about 2 hours out of 24. From about 6 or 7 months old if he had an afternoon nap of even half an hour, then he wouldn't sleep for more than 3 - 4 hours at night, as he got older this got worse. By the time he was 2 1/2 years old it was down to about 2 hours a night with no afternoon nap. The doctors thought I was exaggerating when I took him to see them, that is until he was admitted to hospital with a perforated ear drum when they found out for themselves. Back in those day's you couldn’t stay overnight with your child, on the second day he was in I turned up in the morning to find him in an old Victorian cot with very high sides. When I asked why this was I found out that just a couple of hours after being put down to sleep the nurses were in the kitchen having a cuppa when one of them noticed him toddle past the door. They put him back in his cot only to find him a few minutes later wondering round the ward trying to wake up the other children, so they got this other one out of storage as it had very high sides that he couldn't climb out of. That didn't work well though, as he would be shouting them all night so a nurse had to be with him most of the night to keep him occupied. Giving him anything to make him sleep only made matters worse, it acted like a stimulant.
Yet he would as I said watch a telly program through to the end, or draw a picture till he finished it. By the time he started school at the age of 5, he knew his abc, could write his name and read the simple little books, the cat sat type. So no he did not have an attention problem at all. When he was 7 we found out that by not giving him anything orange including juice he settled to sleeping better, about 5 – 6 hours per night, which was bliss for us. Even now and during his army day's if he needs to be awake for a long stretch of time then a large glass of orange juice will keep him alert for 24 hours no problem.
I do have a friend and a cousin with an ADHD children, and there is a big difference in their behavior to that of our eldest. After saying that I do think that these children need a proper diagnosis before being labelled with this condition, as there are a lot of hyperactive children being given this label too.
Ooops!! that turned out a lot longer than I intended, sorry. :-[
:hug:
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Title: Re:ADHD
Post by: fishs on May 30, 2003, 11:27:43 AM
:hi:
Thankyou Val..
You have added further support to what I have been discovering ..
This is exactly what I was pointing to in my post above when I mentioned .
Docs are lulling parents into a false sense of security ... It is far to easy for them to go with the shut em up keep em quiet option and every one will be happy woopie ..
It is quite irresponsible that the Hyperactive kids are being catagorised with the genuine ADHD .. and what annoys me is that they are all being given this Ritilin like it were candy..
Thanks Val..
Fish |
Title: Re:ADHD
Post by: Val on May 30, 2003, 12:40:03 PM
You're welcome Bro Fishs :lol: ;)
Yes I agree, a lot of doctors do seem to go for the easy/quick option. Bung em all in one box type of thing. >:(
A good paediatrician will carry out the proper tests to see which condition the child has. An ordinary GP should refer all these kids for a proper diagnosis, but hey! that might mean a little extra work for these hard pressed doctors......... They might have to read a report in full. ???
I'm getting very concerned that these drugs with all their dangers are being handed out so easily. Bad enough when it's to adults but where kid's are concerned it's a very real worry. >:(
:hug:
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Title: Re:ADHD
Post by: ami on May 30, 2003, 12:53:36 PM
I have delete my above post because it sound all wrong I have refuse giving my child the drug until I have gone to a doctor at the hosptial. But it has be said that my kid has this problem by school health aurthority and some other person. I have try to discuss this problem with the doc but all seem to get is conflicting attiudes.
Well what Peter has put it post and want I've read, some of the things mention are very similar to want our boy does.
The school don't relise how much I've try help my son by doing is words and numbers with him. Or all other fun stuff we do together. |
Title: Re:ADHD
Post by: Val on May 30, 2003, 01:20:40 PM
No your post didn't sound wrong Ami, I understood what you were saying, think the others did too. ;)
I totally agree with you in refusing this medicine, till you know for sure that it is ADHD. Insist that you get a referal to a specialist Ami, no matter what your doc thinks. It is your right to have your son seen by a specialist, not something you should have to argue about or plead for.
:hug: |
Title: Re:ADHD
Post by: Monika on May 30, 2003, 05:42:54 PM
Yes Ami, you are definitely right in refusing to give your child meds until you're sure it's ADHD. :nod:
I've had an interesting experience with ADHD and learning music lately:
One of my youngest piano students, Kelsey, has ADHD (she's 7). When she has taken her medicine she is so incredibly successful during each lesson, it amazes me. When she hasn't taken her medicine, she just can't grasp what's going on... even music she's already learned she struggles as if she's never seen it before.
My flute teacher is an elementary school music teacher. She uses the Kodaly method in her classroom. I remembered her commenting on how Kodaly seems to really work with the ADHD kids, they focus right in on what's going on.
During my last lesson with Kelsey, she wasn't getting anything, could barely read the music. So I gave some Kodaly stuff a shot... I had her say the pitches using "do re mi" then sing the pitches, then play the pitches she just sang. Worked perfectly!
I was really amazed. Talked about it with my flute teacher... we were wondering why these kids can focus on playing music through the Kodaly method, but not as successfully with traditional note-reading methods.
The only thing we thought of is Kodaly combines aural (listening to the teacher) and verbal (singing/saying the pitches) with some visual (it doesn't stress actual note-reading until the child is older). Traditional methods are heavily visual and really lack in ear training. Maybe those are different parts of the brain, and that combination stimulates something in the brains of kids with ADHD that helps them focus and understand? I'd like to know more about it... any comments/ideas? |
Title: Re:ADHD
Post by: fishs on May 30, 2003, 10:03:40 PM
:hi:
Ami ..
Like Val .. I understood you points in your post .. no problems .
Val.
Yes you are right again .. and that would also mean that docs and GP's may actually have to study and write a report instead of just a script.
Monika ..
Good Points here .. Yes It is the Audio / Visual Thing .. Right side / left side of the Brain. Some kids are much more responsive to Audio learning methods and others are more Visual.. I understand this also influences the type of person as well ie creative methodical etc ..
Fish |
Title: Re:ADHD
Post by: bloss on May 31, 2003, 02:42:18 AM
Hey everyone
This is all interesting stuff to read
Especially since this past week my oldest son has been diagnosed with ADHD and Apserger's Syndrome.
I have read loads of literature on both disorders and there are a lot of different opinions out there. |
Title: Re:ADHD
Post by: Val on June 01, 2003, 01:07:07 AM
:hi: Bloss,
Sorry to hear that Bloss, but from the reading I've done on Apserger's Syndrome it's not all bad news.
Have you seen this mans story?
http://www.basden.u-net.com/andrew.html
Go have a look. ;) As you're reading down look at the last sentance under Family. He's not the only Intellect with Apserger's either. :) There are even quite a few that also have ADHD the same as your son.
I know and understand that with this diagnosis being so recent, you are still in a shocked state as any parent would be. But honestly it isn't all bad things can be done to help without having to necessarily resorting to industrial strength medication.
That cousin I spoke about, the one with a ADHD child. Well what I didn't say was that the little boy also has Autism, he's their 3rd child but the only boy. They thought their world had fallen apart when they first got the dianosis, they really thought that he would never be a "fulfilled" child. Down the road only 5 year's later, that little lad is a joy to be around. Yes he does have problems and always will have, and will often retreat into his own little world, but it doesn't happen that often now. He attends a "normal" school along with his sisters, but does have some extra sessions with someone that has been trained in getting the best from these children. His speach is good, his learning abilities are excellent and he interact's with others very well now. So don't lose hope, keep on researching and talk with other parents that have children with this condition. Have a look at this other link it also has more links in there for parents etc.
http://www.mftsource.com/Treatment.asperger's.htm
The link above isn't working right for some reason ???
Just copy & paste it into your address bar, works that way.
It is a big site but is full of hope. ;)
:bighug: :bighug: :bighug: |
Title: Re:ADHD
Post by: bloss on June 03, 2003, 11:24:09 AM
Thanks for the page of links ... I've just checked some of them out.
I'm still reading a book the paediatrician suggested I swear it was written about my son.
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Title: Re:ADHD
Post by: juliep on June 05, 2003, 09:46:14 AM
My sister fosters children, like me. She has 2 brothers, one has lived with her since he was 4 years old. He was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 5 and he is very typical - he cannot concentrate for more than a few minutes (he's 10 now) -
quote 'Insatiability: goes on and on and on about a matter.
Social clumsiness.
Physical clumsiness.
Disorganisation.
Enormous fluctuations in performance and mood.
Extreme sensitivity and poor self esteem'
But put him on the playstation and he can play for hours - albeit he is constantly fidgiting and talking whilst playing. School had been unable to assess his reading age until someone observed him on the PS reading at a level far above his age. He is on Ritalin but only on school days and it works tremendously well now the dose is at the right level for him.
His brother - who is 12 - has only just come to live with Janet. He was also diagnosed with ADHD and was on a huge dose of Ritalin (the specialist said she had never had a child on such a high dose). He had numerous twitches, ticks and vocal disturbances, was difficult to control, no sense of danger and appeared to be beyond help. His ritalin was reduced and has now been stopped. All these bizzare behaviours have stopped and he is a nice, sensible calm child. He is behind educationally but no wonder.
Fish is so right about the prescribibg of ritalin. This boy had been through so much at the hands of his mentally ill mother that you couldn't expect him to behave in a rational manner and yet everyone was ready to blame ADHD instead of looking deeper into the emotional turmoil he must have been suffering. |
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