ADHD is Real
I don’t know how many times a month I hear someone tell me, not knowing my family’s makeup, that ADHD is not real. Usually the comment is followed by a statement placing the blame on bad parents who can’t, or don’t want to, control their kids so they simply medicate them into a zombie state. Our local news station even had a special report with a local counselor who swore up and down that ADHD is simply not a real condition. As she sat there spewing her nonsensities, my son was jumping up and down incessantly trying to form a thought. This was around dinner time and obviously his medication had worn off. He never did get that sentence out.
I do agree with those that state that ADHD is overdiagnosed and overmedicated. I do think that some children are placed on ADHD medication for the benefit of the teacher(s) and/or the parent(s). Some children who are medicated are also like little zombies, I have seen it myself. My son, however, is not one of these. He is medicated because *he* notices the difference and likes the way he feels and act. I’ve mentioned it before, he even calls it his “control medicine.” Pretty insightful comment from a five year-old. Read my entry The Controversy Behind ADHD.
Parentingguides.org has an article up entitled “I Don’t Believe in ADHD” - it is more than worth the two minutes or so it takes to read it.
