11 percent of school-aged kids diagnosed with ADHD

[Redfairen]

Source: CBS News

New data reveals 11 percent of children 4 through 17 have been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, otherwise known as ADHD.

The statistics, which were compiled from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data by the New York Times, also showed that almost one in five high school boys have ADHD.

"Those are astronomical numbers. I'm floored," Dr. William Graf, a pediatric neurologist in New Haven and a professor at Yale School of Medicine, told the New York Times.

.......

The number is a 16 percent increase from 2007, when only 9.5 percent of parents reported that their child had been diagnosed with ADHD. It's gone up 53 percent in the last 10 years.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57577267/11-percent-of-school-aged-kids-diagnosed-with-adhd/

[tabasco]

1. People making shit up.

To justify their jobs.

[valerief]

11. To sell DRUGS. nt

[secondwind]

2. I wonder what causes this... too much sugar? I see kids bouncing off the walls sometimes

[Victor_c3]

6. As someone who hasn't studied this and who has read only a few articles about it...

I theorize that it is caused by environmental things we are exposing our kids to ranging from the heavily processed foods we eat filled with crazy chemical preservatives to the types of interactions and constant stimulation we receive from our electronic devices.

I really wish I could find this article, but I read something a few years back about a phenomenon that a researcher called "popcorn brain". Basically, with all of our instant messaging, texting, constant ability to play video games, and the instant ability of us to call up nearly limitless information at our fingertips that the brains of our children aren't developing the same way today as they did just a generation or two ago. It was believed by the person conducting the study that periods of non-stimulation are important for our brain as they force us to daydream and deeply analyze things. Instead, the second we get bored while we are sitting on a train or waiting in line at the DMV for 2 hours, we can pull out of cell phone and play a video game or send text messages or whatever.

I'm sure that some of the rapid increase in ADHD has to do with better detection, but I fully believe that there is something very real happening to us. For further evidence, look no further than the increasing prevalence of autism. This is very scary to me.

[KittyWampus]

17. You got it, we need breaks from stimulation to process. That is now gone.

[mpcamb]

31. I agree and I like the word 'stimulation" rather than stress.

Watching the NCAAs or for that matter anything on ESPN and worse yet, kid tv , are good examples of the constant flickering and flitting from one image to another which is clearly bad for people. I hope it doesn't take researchers a decade to prove that. Clearly some of this statistical rise is environmental and some is intrinsic for people and has always been there. It's not an either/or situation. Some is nature, some is nurture. But certain stimulations are bad for people and probably causative.

[murielm99]

56. This is so true. n/t

[snooper2]

8. Kids were bouncing off the walls in 1965, and in 1912, and in 1743, they are kids

LOL...

Is there a new craze out there I missed where everyone wants stepford children?


That movie was made already right

[rwsanders]

20. Look for the book "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv

I think his explanation is as good as any. He describes it as "Nature Deficit Disorder" and attributes ADHD ADD to lack of unstructured play and exposure to the outdoors (not sports based play, but real imaginative stuff).
Heck people know better about dogs and act stupid about kids. If they don't exercise the dog, the dog chews things. We exercise our's regularly and the total destruction of things other than toys has been 1 TV tray leg scratched and 1 webcam wire cut like butter. But people think kids react differently when all they have is TV and video games.

[woodsprite]

30. Middle school where my son goes has no recess and phys ed is not for all students

He wants to be in orchestra and he's been playing violin since he's been 5yo, so he can't fit phys ed into his schedule. He also is in the gifted program. They said we could pull him out of that for phys ed, but I didn't want to do that either since it's an honor. He gets no physical activity at school other than changing classes or running to the bus. Most of the phys ed classes in 1st-4th were feel-good, non-competitive things, learning (and having written tests) on the rules, etc. Thankfully, we have him enrolled in an aftercare program that spends as much time outside and involved in phys activity as they can (from 2:30 to 5:30). He also goes there for summer camp.

I don't know if my hubby will go for it or not, but I was thinking we should get a family YMCA membership. Lord knows I could use it. Son does love to swim. But, as proven by a family contest last night, he needs to gain some upper body strength. He can't do more than 1.5 pull-ups and regular plank push-ups are hard for him. His younger cousins (swimteam, baseball, soccer members) buzzed through them.

[rwsanders]

37. I quit phys ed as soon as I could because of bullies...

One of my friends got face-slammed into a concrete block wall during indoor hockey. I was mostly infuriated that I couldn't retaliate for him even though he didn't seem concerned.
I was a band nerd for a while (wish I hadn't quit) but thought college prep was more important. So I sympathize.
I still recommend the book. After high school I joined karate, then fencing, until I found the best sport in the world, sailing. I also bicycle and hike.
I hope he finds something he enjoys.

[MADem]

59. I grew up with recess, and phys ed, and DANCING (square dancing, most memorably) in school.

We were made to run around and get tired and sweaty, we also walked to school, and after school, of our own volition, we would do something called "playing outdoors"...riding bikes, roller skating, using scooters (manually operated, no motors), sledding, ice skating, playing baseball, street hockey, things like that--no wonder there were fewer fat children; they got a bit of a workout as a function of being a child!

We slept well, too!

I think that paradigm is just...gone. Those were the "good old days."

[wordpix]

48. I say "No child left inside!"

[wordpix]

47. numerous things, all solvable via better teaching in schools, more time outside

stop the high sugar, high salt junk foods, turn off the video games and junk TV, turn off the iPhones, take the headsets off, teach appropriate behavior and use appropriate disciplinary measures at home and school, walk and bike to school, get exercise, etc. etc.

I've taught ADHD kids for over 20 yrs. so I AM an expert.

[Sparky 1]

67. It is genetic, nothing to do with sugar, or bad parenting, or lack of recess, or

anything else.

They've done lots of research with brain scans, and it's simply people whose brains work differently. It runs in families. Different members of the family may manifest it in somewhat different ways.

I am ADHD and it runs in my family.

[TwilightGardener]

3. I hate stuff like this, because now everyone will say it's not a real disorder

if so many kids have it. When your kid really does have it, it's obvious. My son is in high school, he's intelligent, but his schoolwork takes hours longer than it should, he is surrounded by little scraps of paper and cell phone reminders to get himself organized and help him remember things--he hasn't been on stimulants in years, and has developed coping mechanisms instead. It's also a good thing he's got a work ethic.

[Stargazer09]

12. I used to be a skeptic

But when my fourth-grader started throwing things at his teachers whenever they tried to get him to do his math, we knew something was horribly wrong.

Super smart kid, but completely unable to stay on task. He's on concerta now, and he's a completely different child. No more suspensions, no more violence.

[TwilightGardener]

13. Yes--unfortunately, I think the meds are the real confirmation of whether or not they

have it. My son was finally able to sit still and learn--those parts of his brain finally "lit up". But, we didn't leave him on Concerta and Strattera for more than a few years, because he developed weird tics.

[EC]

4. So, they better find out the cause.

unless they are over diagnosing.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Too many other interests holding their attention I guess.

Anyone recall anything like this across the late '50s / sixties ?

Dozing off during some classes didn't prevent me from passing exams anyway.

[TwilightGardener]

7. I think it's overdiagnosed, and yes, it's electronic gizmos and lack of attention span, IMO.

Too many distractions, never have to wait for anything, texting and on-demand video and gaming entertainment all day, even during school. I think if parents are just looking at poor school performance, well...in REAL cases it often shows up BEFORE they go to kindergarten.

[KittyWampus]

18. I did some real digging on this. Constant distractions (phone calls, emails) = measurable STRESS

it is bad for our physical health and effects us negatively.

It is measurable.

[TwilightGardener]

21. I have no doubt about that.

[Mz Pip]

32. What I do not understand

My cousin's kid was diagnosed with ADHD and is on medication. He has no attention span when it comes to school work and is pretty much flunking out of high school. However, he has no problem playing video games 3 hours straight. No problem with his attention span when he's playing Warcraft but can't finish a paper on time.

I do think it is overdiagnosed. Parents seem to want perfect kids who make no noise and do well in school with no effort.

[wordpix]

49. Exactly true. I've taught ADHD kids for 20+ yrs. ADD to me means "assignment deficit disorder"

There is also "HAD"---homework deficit disorder, a common problem.

I've seen/heard, "He can't learn!" but he knows the history of every heavy metal band ever in existence.
"It takes him five hours to complete his homework every night!" but he's doing it while texting on his phone and gaming on the internet.
"She can't write a sentence!" but she writes perfectly well when she's texting several hrs./day.

Trust me, if a kid's playing video games 3 hrs. straight/day, he's my definition of ADD and HAD, not the other.

[Sparky 1]

73. Please read up on the brain scans done on these people

I am ADHD, above average intelligence from a family of same, and it's a lot easier for me to get into some things than others. Also sometimes I can read pages and pages rapidly absorbing all, and some times I read the same paragraph ten times and finally put the book down because my mind won't stay focused. I pause the TV all the time too because of my mind going off in other directions, and I LIKE the tv show I'm watching.

It's not easy to cope with even for this grandmother, and I can assure you it's quite genuine. Our brains work differently than yours does.

Does that mean every diagnosis is correct? No of course not.

[AtheistCrusader]

9. "I'm worried about the adults"

[olddots]

46. he speaks the truth

many parents fear the truth.

[Sparky 1]

71. Most folks with ADD/ADHD are quite intelligent.

[Android3.14]

10. Total BS

I'd bet money that most of this is the result of parents looking for discipline in a pill. I taught teens for years, and the uptick has far more to do with two-income families looking for something to explain why the kid misbehaves instead of taking responsibility for their own (lack of) parenting because they can only see their children for a few hours each day and feed them sugar-laden processed foods.
My own brother was ADHD, and it took attention, consistency and pragmatic applications of consequences before he realized that the expression of his ADHD was not nearly as uncomfortable as the consequences of failing to control himself.

[Sparky 1]

72. As someone who is and has siblings and kids that are, I disagree.

Brain scans have proven that the self-control areas in these folks do not work or do not work as well as non-ADD/ADHD people. Do some reading up on it.

Different things work -- or fail to -- on different people.

I can tell you as a parent of an ADD/ADHD child your heart aches for them and you'd do anything you could to help them.

[Stargazer09]

14. Heredity may play a role

My son's psychiatrist strongly believes that this is hereditary. My mom had, and I have, many of the symptoms.

When I take the stimulants, I can concentrate on my work. When I don't, I get distracted way too easily. It sucks, but my biggest regret is not knowing about this when I was younger.

[RebelOne]

34. I believe that heredity has a lot to do with it.

My son was hyperactive when he was younger, but at that time there was no diagnosis for it, as this was over 40 years ago. Now both his sons have had ADHD and had been on medication. As they became older, they have outgrown it.

[Stargazer09]

38. I think the rise in cases

Can be explained by genetics, too.

For each afflicted person two or three generations ago, there could be many more people with the disorder today. Combine that with a better understanding of the disorder and better diagnostic tools, and it's easy to see why there is a jump in cases being seen now.

[alp227]

61. Speaking of heredity, have you heard of Thom Hartmann's hunter/farmer hypothesis?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_vs._farmer_hypothesis

Hartmann notes that most or all humans were nomadic hunter-gatherers for hundreds of thousands of years, but that this standard gradually changed as agriculture developed in most societies, and more people worldwide became farmers. Over many years, most humans adapted to farming cultures, but Hartmann speculates that people with ADHD retained some of the older hunter characteristics.

A key component of the hypothesis is that the proposed "hyperfocus" aspect of ADHD is a gift or benefit. The hypothesis also explains the distractibility factor in ADHD individuals and their short attention span, along with various other characteristics, such as apathy towards social norms, poor planning and organizing ability, distorted sense of time, impatience, and impulsiveness. It is argued that in the hunter-gatherer cultures that preceded farming societies, hunters needed hyperfocus more than gatherers.

I've listened to the show in the days since this story came out and have yet to hear Thom discuss this study at all even in his daily "On the News" segment. Thom continues discussing his views on ADHD and the brain to this day on his show, and in this segment from 3/30/2011 Hartmann suggests ADHD is NOT a disorder:

[darkangel218]

63. I agree completely with Hartmann.

Thanks for posting this video, alp227.

[Stargazer09]

64. My 20-year-old son

Has recently been diagnosed with ADHD, too, and he pointed out this theory to me. It certainly makes sense.

But then again, I am not too happy about this being considered a "disorder." After all, I think it's responsible for a lot of my positive traits, and just because I find traditional learning to be tedious doesn't mean that I'm stupid or abnormal.

[Andy Stanton]

15. It's always been around

Many kids are disorganized and easily distracted and it's always been this way.

Call it ADHD or immaturity, we're talking about the same thing.

Perhaps medication can help but I doubt it.

[DeSwiss]

16. The CDC guy is floored?

We have government agencies that oversee and approve the production of the food we eat and drink which, put mildly, is poison shit.

- Why so floored?

[azurnoir]

19. Not a surprise at all IMO it starts at school

drugged kids are easier to manage, easier to herd, it relates to the now Omnipotent test scores, it 'almost' happened to our son a few years back, it was brought up by one person at a meeting about him, no he was not a discipline problem ever, he was in special ed for speech, hence the meeting he was having problems with math though, the special ed teacher, social worker, assistant special ed teacher, and assistant social worker, along with the vice principle who had never met the kid 'diagnosed' him. They insisted we bring to a local specialty clinic however they became upset when we said we had to referred by his pediatrician, who actually laughed at the notion and asked what school this was, when I told him he smiled in a way that said "I thought so". Over the next few years, anecdotally we found out this was a du jour thing for this school, which BTW had 2 things the school was the highest test score rated elementary school in the city, it also had the highest number of kids in special ed, there is a correlation there

[TwilightGardener]

27. I had the opposite experience--I knew something was wrong with mine

from the git-go, by the time he was three. Just absolutely zero impulse control, zero ability to focus, constant mindless, purposeless motion and activity compared to other kids his age. I don't doubt that some well-meaning school staff think they're better at catching it than parents, though.

[azurnoir]

28. well in this case IMO they were self serving not well meaning

none of those things applied to my kid, he had very good impulse control, could concentrate on just about any subject, could build complicated models at least complicated for a 9 year old, read 2 grade levels above his, he was having problems with math however, first it was a possible learning disability, then it was this, after we were back to possible learning disability, the school was the only one in the city with their own on site social worker and special ed teachers, also the only school in the system to NOT offer free breakfast to all its students, that includes secondary schools too. Turned out he was being pulled out of class for speech during math, this had been going for years
We sadly called this in ourselves, he has a birth injury that left him without full use of right hand, initially we had asked for possible help with physical therapy for this, his former school had moved heaven and earth to do this, the elementary in question made excuse after excuse as to why they just could not do this and never did, but why he needed to be in speech for years, even after he had completed the program.
Any and every time we suggested that he had progressed with his speech no longer having problems with the S sound and no longer needed special ed, he'd be sent to the social worker for a question and answer period about his home life-do your mom and dad get along? how about your sisters any problems there? are you sure think real real hard........ you get the idea
They did make an issue when one of sisters moved out, there must be something after all she left home-well yes she did she is 25 years old, they didn't think to ask how old she was.
To sum it up it was all about maintaining their funding and rating, about 1/3 of the kids in the school were in special ed for one thing or another usually speech
BTW he is in High School now and gets A's and B's in math at least now that he can actually be in class

[Stargazer09]

39. My son was like that, too

He has always struggled with impulse control and concentration. At first, we blamed it on low oxygen during his birth (uterine rupture), but after a while, it became obvious that it was far deeper than that.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

22. I went to school in the forties and fifties

and this type of disorder was almost nonexistent, whats changed?

[CANDO]

44. It was there.

They were the "bad apples" who sat in the back and eventually dropped out. Show me a kid with little or no interest in learning, and you've probably got an ADHD problem.

[wordpix]

50. well you might have a teacher problem, instead

Not all teachers are good. Some are great, some mediocre, some downright poor and should not be in the profession.

[Mosby]

23. I wonder if a lack of exercise plays a role?

I tend to think that add and adhd are real disorders and are growing in frequency though there are probably lots of people who have been misdiagnosed.

[Sparky 1]

68. No. It's genetic, and proven by brain scans.

[olddad56]

24. my son has the inattentive type of ADD.

I knew something was wrong very early in his life. He takes medication, but we also try to keep foods with artificial colorings and flavoring out of his diet. He takes vitamin supplements, especially liquid b12 ans fish oil. There are downsides to the meds, and I think that ADD is way over diagnosed and over medicated. My son is extremely bright, but with out the meds, he would never been able stay focused enough to succeed in school. I think there are so many contributing factors to the increase in kids getting diagnosed that you could never narrow it down. Indoor and outdoor pollution are factors, pesticides and other chemicals in food, etc.

Another problem with the diagnostics is that researchers have done great things with brain scans, and other diagnostic tools, but they are not available to the people who see the kids and make the diagnostics. A questionnaire given to the parents and the teacher is pretty subjective.

[moosewhisperer]

25. my four year old

Two preschool directors and a behavior therapist all suggested my four-year-old son has ADHD tendencies -- unfocused, defiant, impulsive, aggressive, uncoordinated, etc. Of course, at home, he doesn't bounce off the walls, can focus on tasks, is sweet and polite, etc. His issues have only been in school and some other crowded, noisy environments. One preschool director even suggested special ed.

Turns out his issues stem from his nervous system being impaired through a difficult birth which ended in vacuum extraction. This is also the source of his body not being able to process certain foods. After musculoskeletal adjustments through an osteopath and a food elimination and reintroduction diet, my kiddo is a focused, sweet, calm four-year-old boy.

In many cases, ADHD symptoms stem from identifiable sources such as food allergies or sensitivities, vitamin deficiencies, etc.

[Sparky 1]

74. The most recent scientific information says it's a geneticbrain difference, proven by brain scans.

I don't know if your son's difficult birth contributed to his situation, and wouldn't presume to outguess you, his parent. I'm sorry he's having problems and I can feel his stress and yours.

I can understand your son's problems, as an ADHD grandmother myself, who raised an ADHD son. Your home is not a stressful environment and when he relaxes his brain works better. And yes mine also works better on things I LIKE and can just refuse to work in some ways no matter how hard I try -- and I'm no slouch; I'm a published author and have been told I'm brilliant all my life. So your little one may well be brilliant as well. School is very stressful and under stress the brain can just shut down. I absolutely can't handle parties, but I can stand up on a stage and give an 8-hour seminar, and used to be an entertainer for a living. But put me down in that crowd and I can have a full fledged panic attack. I can do the street fair, but mainly on the edges of the crowd. So I understand your dear little one. He can't help it and it's not food allergies or sugar, etc., according to the latest scientific reports.

Of course I'm not saying he should get away with bad behavior by any means. He needs reminders, incentives, and good strong guidelines. But he also needs your understanding that it's far more difficult for him than the other children, and you need to know it's not something you did or are doing wrong, so please don't beat yourself up.

Google "ADD ADHD brain scans." And give that little doll a hug for me.

[still_one]

26. 100% of the msm has ADHD

[Newest Reality]

29. Only 11%?

Well, other than those who actually have a problem, there is a lot of work to be done on the market share there.

Those numbers represent a loss of 89% potential market saturation for Pharmaceuticals and that is profit and so, it is a goal worth achieving.

More work needs to be done on Mom and Dad, too. Not enough people are on anti-depressants and other psychotropics as a means to cope with the corporate state of things. There is huge, untapped potential in that market, as well.

Invest in America where some drugs are really, really good!

[Marrah_G]

33. I was diagnosaed with this way back before it was called AHDH

Back then it was hyperactivity.

It was me and one other boy in the school.

As for some of the things I've seen in this thread:

My family was very outdoor oriented.

Junk food was non existent in our house. I remember the feingold diet (elimination of preservative and artificial colors) that did not work except to make me feel like more of a freak around other kids.

I was not allowed to watch TV except Little house on the prairie... Monday nights, 8 pm...

I always tested high in the IQ tests and learned quickly and can speed read at crazy rates. Things like homework or anything that meant any real focus for more then maybe 15 mins or so was my downfall unless I really liked something. I could sit down and read an entire book in a couple hours. But studying for 2 hours was impossible.

I never grew out of it.

I either can't focus or I hyper focus.

Following through on projects that take alot of time is still extremely difficult for me.

The worst thing was the impulsivity. It took me decades to learn to control that and I still struggle. I have to try to never do things on impulse, when I do the results are bad.

[obama2terms]

35. It seems these were made up to sell drugs

I mean ALL kids are hyper. It used be no big deal, but now it's considered a bad thing. Sometimes I wonder how much creativity these people are taking away from these kids. I mean imagine if Eeinstein or Edison were put on one of those drugs, because they were considered "ADHD." Plus I feel like ADD and ADHD are used as crutches for doctors to make money, or to not get down to the root of the problem. In fact, a buddy of mine went to a doctor to get tested for a learning disability a while ago, the doctor claimed he has ADD. But when he went to a different doctor, it was found he has dyslexia not ADD. There's more research that needs to be done before I believe it's real, I think most of the time it's just a misdiagnosed learning disability.

[emmadoggy]

40. Sorry, but no, ALL kids are not hyper.

I work in a school. I do agree that there are likely cases where someone is incorrectly diagnosed with ADHD. I agree that sometimes parents, teachers, or doctors jump to this conclusion too quickly. But I can tell you that the disorder is real. I am FAR from any sort of expert, but I see a lot of kids and how they function in school. All kids are not hyper. Most kids can sit in a chair at a desk and listen to a teacher and listen and participate in the lesson. They might fidget or shift in their seats now and then for comfort, but are able to sit and participate in an appropriate manner. They might get bored and tune out now and then, but generally are attentive and present in what's going on. They are able to finish and complete assignments.

Kids with ADHD LITERALLY can not sit in a chair. They sit for about 2 seconds, then get up and sit on their knees for a second or two, then they might just stand at their desk, then they might put their knee in the chair again, then they might bend over to mess with something on the floor and so on. They literally can not sit still. They are constantly in motion and they are constantly playing with or messing with some object, be it a pencil, or their hair, or a notebook, or a paperclip or anything they find or get their hands on. Because they are so busy moving around, they also can't listen to what's going on or being discussed. They are distracted by any minor sound or motion in the room or out in the hallway. They are impulsive and interrupt the teacher to bring up topics that are not part of the discussion or just simply interrupt and speak out of turn. They are often getting very frequent reprimands from the teacher to sit still, listen, etc. Teachers often have to constantly repeat information or assignment instructions for these students, sometimes multiple times! These kids also often have atrocious handwriting - which improves with medication- often dramatically.

As for the stifled creativity you mention- it is often after they are treated with medication that you can finally see the intelligence and creativity in these kids! They are suddenly able to accomplish and complete tasks! Their handwriting improves, grades improve, behavior improves, organization improves, and often self-esteem improves (because they are not being constantly reprimanded, because they have a sense of accomplishment and pride in their improved grades and work and because they just feel better. Imagine never being able to just completely relax and sit still!) They are able to focus and THINK!

I am not advocating for just drugging up kids every time there is a behavior issue or any little problem. Some cases are more mild (which makes them trickier to diagnose, for sure) and some are more severe. But the disorder IS real and medication can dramatically help those kids who truly have ADHD or ADD. I've seen it.

[olddad56]

41. thank you.

My son has the inattentive type. He has no hyperactive symptoms, but this situation is just as real. He would not be doing well in school without the medications. Playing a musical instrument has also helped hm a great deal. I don't think he could have learned to play the instrument without the meds.

[DollarBillHines]

36. I believe Bad Parenting accounts for about half of those kids.

While I believe that there are many kids with true ADHD, I place a lot of blame on Bad Parents for the remainder of them.

Ask any teacher, they can spot bad parents across the parking lot.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

42. You may believe it's all BS, but for those who have ADHD - as I do - it's

a struggle.

I was diagnosed just last year at age 40. All through my life, I knew I was 'different' and I processed things differently. I grew up in Italy and did my kindergarten through first year of high school there, in public schools, in the early 70s to the late 80s.

I started speaking and reading at a very early age. I was already speaking in complete sentences at 6 months of age. I was reading voraciously very soon thereafter. I learned things - in all subjects and at various levels of complexity - very quickly. I remembered things incredibly well.

I was very talkative - so much so that my poor mom remembers fondly telling me to be quiet. I could talk for hours, on and on about various subjects and things.

In school, I was the perfect student, helping the teacher and performing well above my peers. I never could concentrate on homework for more than a few minutes at a time and I would get bored incredibly easily. I was socially awkward, but I had friends - though I made friends easier with boys than with girls, because I was attracted to the hyperactivity of sports, running, etc.

While on the outside I was the perfect student, inside I was hiding my deficiencies - inattention, impulsiveness, hyperactivity - thanks to my memory and learning abilities. Since the Italian school system has testing based on writing, math word problems or oral presentations (no multiple choice or true/false tests), I was able to succeed at a very high level.

When I arrived in the U.S. at age 15, I was tested on the Stanford-Binet IQ scale in order to place me in school. I scored very highly and, had it not been for the fact that I didn't speak or write or understand English, I would have been eligible to apply for college then. Even in high school, I learned very quickly (by my 3rd month I was already reasonably fluent in English). I graduated high school at 17. Standardized testing was a nightmare for me. I couldn't pay any attention to the questions - I'd skim paragraphs and often miss the nuances. In other words, I suck at standardized testing. Yet, I managed.

In college, I changed my majors at least 7 times. I ended up with several degrees and minors, but college was difficult due to the standardized testing. When I was tested based on an essay or research paper or oral presentation, I excelled. When the grade was based on a multiple choice or true/false test, I sucked.

Anyway, when I started working in my career, I accidentally fell on a field that fits my ADHD immensely: immigration law. This is because it depends on the last minute emergencies and it thrives on deadlines and urgency. I am incredibly drawn to the adrenaline brought on by urgency. I've done incredibly well in this field, but little tasks like filing, organizing and prioritizing (although I don't have much of these) and minutiae drive me insane. I am at times still socially awkward, but - given the chance - I can talk the ears off of anyone.

I am also an avid video game player - especially with first person shooters. I play Call of Duty games consistently in multiplayer formats. I do so daily.

Last year, I went to my employer's EAP provider - thinking I was having major depression issues as a result of a hysterectomy (and resulting inability to have kids). After several tests, another IQ test and many questions regarding my past, the psychiatrist diagnosed me as ADHD.

Since the diagnosis, I've done some research and found that ADHD in adults - particularly in females - is still an open question mark as far as research goes. I also found that my choice in careers seems to fit a pattern for many adults with ADHD. Fellow ADHD adults tend to favor occupations that are driven by adrenaline and our ability to hyper-focus on things we like. Hence, fields like emergency medicine, surgery, the law, the military, law enforcement and public safety are very attractive. Many are also drawn to entrepreneurship. Apparently, Sir Richard Branson of Virgin fame is one such ADHD person.

Anyway, one of the first questions I asked the psychiatrist was to explain why, then, if I have ADHD I am so drawn to the seemingly boring task of playing the same video game over and over (as some have also asked in previous posts). He responded saying that the video games provide multiple stimuli that - although they appear boring to non-ADHD people - our ADHD brain finds them very appealing. Furthermore, they change frequently, keeping the brain entertained.

Since then, I've been on stimulants - the usual course of action for ADHD. I started with Ritalin (methylphenidate) in various dosages and I've now transitioned to Concerta (which is extended release methylphenidate), due to the side effects of the immediate release Ritalin. My life has changed in ways I can't describe. I can actually read full paragraphs without skimming. I can actually concentrate on one or two things at a time, instead of doing hundreds of things at once.

Before the medication, my brain was like a TV switching channels every 5 seconds without a remote and the ability to stop. Now, I feel like I have the remote to switch the channels at my own pace. I sleep better (before I would wake up and 'hear' songs in my head or buzzing or think about a million things) and I'm more at ease.

Medication is not a panacea. I still have to work at organizing myself, doing the little boring tasks like filing and paperwork and so on. I am not a zombie - my abilities (memory, learning, etc.) are still there. I can still talk endlessly, but I am working on that as well.

So, the point is that while these ADHD diagnoses may be indeed exaggerated or excessive, for me this diagnosis has been life-altering. I can now see why I have had some issues through my life (I didn't discuss the impulsive effects, but those are certainly important, especially with regards to relationships and money).

[callous taoboy]

75. Fascinating post. You sound like so many kids I've had in my 2nd grade class,

marching to the beat of a different drummer. The parents of one of my students recently got him on Concerta, and it has made a profound, very positive difference. Before, I was always having to prod him to get focused, get materials out, get work done, get work finished. He is a very bright boy, incredibly likable, but man could he be frustrating before medication.

Last year I had a boy with ADD, and it was extreme. He would just sit and stare off into space, was always in study hall to get work done (which didn't help). No amount of prodding or rewards could get him to complete even the most minimal assignment. Again, a very bright boy with potential that was just being squandered. The parent was very resistant to getting him to a doctor, but when she finally got him on medication it was as though a switch got flipped on.

I have another boy this year who is off-the-charts ADHD. He doesn't walk down the hall: He twirls, dances, leaps from green tiles to white tiles, does little jigs with his feet. It is actually very cute in a way. When I approach him to get him to stop it is like I am jarring him out of a dream, bringing him back to the here-and-now. His processing is very unusual. He is very bright and is thinking so quickly that he will blurt out answers that are wrong because he has already taken the original intent of a comment just made and run off with it and down a path that he is sure is right because he has tuned out all other information that would help him be more grounded in logic. They tried him on Ritalin and it made him severely depressed, so the parents, unfortunately, decided that their attempt to help him through medication is over.

[Sparky 1]

78. Thanks for the awesome post. Me too!

Your words sound like me, my sisters, my kids, and at least one of my two grandkids (the other is still a baby so we'll see).

[toddaa]

43. I wish I had been diagnosed as a kid

All of you people discrediting this haven't a clue what it's like to go through life thinking you are a loser because you can't do the simplest things like sit still or be on time. Now that I know, I actually feel kind of sorry for those of you who don't have it. No offense, but you're kind of boring.

[CANDO]

45. Bless you!

I become quite irritated with the knee jerk naysayers. When my daughter reached kindergarten, my wife and I were already on alert to the possibility of ADHD. By the middle of 1st grade, when her teacher said she likes to belly surf on her desk seat in the middle of instruction, we knew for sure. Of course up to that point we had already been working with the Pediatrician on the possibility. My wife was ADAMANT that her child was not being put on drugs. What got through to her finally was me talking her through it how children OWN their "badness". They come to believe they are bad or worthless because they are constantly scolded in school for their inability to sit still and succeed. For anyone who thinks ADHD is bullshit, you are a fool. My daughter went from "belly surfing" to a nearly straight A student literally overnight. She is now in 8th grade and we've allowed her to try going without her meds this school year. It's been a struggle. She's done surprisingly well, but we're beginning to see some deterioration in her grades. Mostly down to one or two A's and the rest B's and C's. She's going back on meds now because the main subjects she is starting to struggle with are Math and Language Arts. She's come too far to mess with such important subjects. I wanted my daughter to see and experience learning as a fun thing. Not something she should ever be hateful of. Any parent who has a kindergartner or 1st grader who hates going to school should immediately find a good Pediatrician. No child should ever hate school in the first 2 years. If they do, there is something horribly wrong. And there's a good chance its not the teacher or the school.

[Sparky 1]

80. Bravo! Well said!

This thread brought out every misconception the public has about ADD/ADHD, didn't it?

Bless your heart, your analysis is perceptive and right on the money. I'm so glad you were able to help your dear daughter. Being that the diagnosis was just becoming known when my son was little, I wasn't diagnosed for decades. There are no doubt many like me who would have been much better served by an early diagnosis. Back in the '70s when they diagnosed my son, nobody knew it runs in families or that adults could have it.

Your daughter is very blessed to have you looking out for her so brilliantly.

[Sparky 1]

79. LOL! Me too!

Some of us fell in the cracks and could have benefited greatly from an earlier diagnosis. I sure understand.

[Earth_First]

51. Once upon a time, before standardized testing it was called daydreaming

or overactive imagination.

Of course that theory doesn't sell consultants or pharmaceuticals...

[darkangel218]

52. I dont believe in ADHD or medicating kids for it.

This push for having everyone drugged up and turned into a drone makes me sick. Let the kids be kids, stop turning them into zombies.

[alp227]

62. That's Thom Hartmann's POV i think, see my reply 61. n/t

[Nevernose]

65. I've known a kid who was ADHD

And this is out of thousands, through the years, that I've taught.

The kids mom had recently become a scientologist and had taken her son off his meds. It was frightening, and that one kid is the reason I'm sure that most are misdiagnosed. If you'd met him, you would have no doubt that ADHD is real -- just much rarer than is diagnosed. Also in my own experience, my impression has been that most ADD kids are simply a little more immature than most of their peers, and just need to be allowed to grow up naturally.

[Sparky 1]

70. Then you must not suffer from it.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

53. Could it be its' always been this way?

and only now we know what to look for? I was in grade school 50+ years ago and there were kids who couldn't stay on task then..........

[thucythucy]

54. I think ADHD is very real, though

there may be instances of over-diagnosis.

And I think many of the posters here have hit on some of the factors that might account for the increase in diagnosis, including better screening, the declining quality of our diets (especially for children), genetic factors, environmental toxins, increased distractions overall in the sense of video games, cell phones, etc.

One factor I haven't seen mentioned is simply the fact that our society, in the last thirty or so years, has become so much LOUDER than before, and I mean that literally.

I remember this past autumn, passing by a junior high, and watching a bunch of people using leaf blowers to sweep the dirt from one end of the faculty parking lot to another. And I remember thinking, how are the kids and the teachers in that school supposed to hear themselves think, with all that toxic noise going on right under their windows?

We fill our environment with all manner of clutter and noise, then wonder why so many of us can't focus. Human beings, as mammals, weren't meant to live with all this chaos and noise.

[Odin2005]

55. Here come the "ADHD is made up by Big Pharma" BS.

[Sparky 1]

76. You hit that nail on the head! ADD/ADHD are REAL -- I know; I am ADHD

[sakabatou]

58. Over diagnosing or actual diagnosis?

[Sparky 1]

77. Bingo. They're getting better at diagnosing it and brain scans have backed them up.

Of course, doctors can make mistakes. But most try hard not to.

[Sunlei]

60. I think diagnosing adhd saves state taxpayer money and brings in federal money to the states

What must be the most stressful for parents and child is the knowledge that once the child hits age 18 the usa 'free' (taxpayer paid)federal health care system is done with them.

Dr. William Graf, a pediatric neurologist is shocked by these numbers. When babies are born he doesn't see 1 in 5 male babies born with development issues does he?

There is a whole industry around "disability check for adhd" But after the children turn 18 they are on their own.

disability check for adhd http://www.google.com/search?q=disability+check+for+adhd&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&rlz=

[Socal31]

66. What a load of shit.

Ah yes, I defer to a punk song from my teen (90s) years:

"Mommy, what does hyper mean?
The teacher says I'll never read
Says I need to take a pill
So I can learn to sit real still
The microwaves did something to our brains
We need to take these pills to help us change

Please let me take them, I don't want to be an idiot
Ritalin will make me smart
At least that's what my teacher says
All the other kids take them, I think I am the only one
I need something to slow me down
I talk too much 'cause I am dumb

Mommy what's a deficit?
I think it means that I can't sit
Disorder of attention, and I don't learn the lesson
Mommy, please help me see the light
Don't you know my teacher's always right?
Please let me take them, I don't want to be an idiot
Ritalin will make me smart
At least that's what my teacher says
All the other kids take them, I think I am the only one
I need something to slow me down
I talk too much 'cause I am dumb

Joey started on week four, he's not in trouble anymore
Suzy's in it on week nine, now she's never out of line
Please let me take them, I don't want to be an idiot
Mommy takes my Ritalin
There's not enough for me she said
All the other moms take them, I think it's not just mine
I don't know if she's smarter now
But at least she's doin' fine"




ADD - by Ten Foot Pole

[Sparky 1]

81. Please read the posts by ADD/ADHD folks and parents of ADD/ADHD kids here, thanks.

[midnight]

69. Plano Texas a few years back had large quantities of anti-depressants found in their water....

It made many wonder why this area that was taking anti-depressants like candy was also linked to high suicide rates?

Now I know this is a bit off topic, but their are too many chemicals in our water, air, food, clothing, and instead of pumping more chemicals into these children we need to clean up their environments...