| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the | | | | created a disorder to ease teachers and parents' |
| most common behavioral disorder of childhood. It is | | | | anxieties regarding childhood inappropriate behavior |
| commonly estimates that from 3% to 6% of the | | | | by routinely drugging children into proper behavior. |
| child and adolescent population in the United States is | | | | Those who continue to believe that ADHD is a |
| diagnosed with ADHD. However, a recent report | | | | medical myth must ignore a mountain of scientific |
| issued by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) | | | | studies and research literatures that documents the |
| suggest that ADHD may affect as many as 8% to | | | | existence of ADHD as a ligitimate and serious |
| 17% of America's youth. The APA report indicating a | | | | disorder. Based on the criteria established by the DSM |
| greater public health threat than previously | | | | IV, ADHD accounts for the greatest number of |
| thought.Children and adolescents with ADHD are at a | | | | referrals to child mental health clinic than all other |
| significantly higher risk for numerous emotional and | | | | psychiatric and behavioral problems of childhood |
| social problems than those without ADHD, including | | | | adolescent.The continued questioning of the validity |
| academic and occupational underachievement, | | | | of the diagnosis of ADHD has caused uncertainties |
| violence and criminality, increased suicide and | | | | about its management in the minds of many clinicians |
| risk-taking behavior. Children with ADHD are also at | | | | and the public at large. Inaccurate beliefs about the |
| risk for depression, interpersonal difficulties, and | | | | validity of ADHD may hinder the appropriate care of |
| family disruption (J. Kendall, 2003). Although studies | | | | some patients and cause confusion about the need |
| have demonstrated that family dysfunction is | | | | for approved treatment. As stated above, critics |
| common in families with ADHD children. Also, family | | | | describe ADHD as a means to label difficult children |
| members may suffer serious psychological effects, | | | | who are not ill but whose behavior is the problem. |
| however, knowledge is noticeable lacking as to how | | | | They further contend that, far from having a |
| to help these families cope with the daily challenges | | | | biological basis, ADHD results from improper parenting |
| ADHD.Article of interest Recently I read an article | | | | and poor, ineffective, teaching practices. These |
| titled, Working with the Family of a Child with | | | | attitudes further stigmatize patients and their families, |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The | | | | and increase the burden of this debilitating disease. |
| authors of this article are: D.J. DeMarle, L. Denk, and | | | | There is overwhelming medical evidence that ADHD |
| C.S. Ernsthausen. I recommend this particular article | | | | not only cause specific disabling symptoms that often |
| for several reasons the most important being that it | | | | persist into adulthood, but many studies shows a |
| is replete with great ideas; and some very good | | | | biological connection and a characteristic response to |
| suggestions that sets the framework for addressing | | | | approved treatment.Rodney Dangerfield, the |
| family members' relevent concerns about ADHD and | | | | well-known actor/comedian, often said "I get no |
| make recommendation for effective treatment and | | | | respect." The thought that came to my mind was |
| support system. Most practitioners understand ADHD | | | | ADHD gets no respect. That is certainly the |
| as a medical condition. I don't agree with that | | | | conclusion one might reach after reading so many |
| assessment. It is true that ADHD has a biological and | | | | insidious statements that ADHD is not an authentic |
| a physiological component. However, I believe that | | | | and debilitating disorder. Many of us, including this |
| ADHD is a psychological, behavioral, and medical | | | | author, who work with children diagnosed with ADHD |
| disorder. When we view ADHD as a single entity we | | | | have no illusion about the reality and seriousness of |
| run the risk of treating part of the symptoms. For | | | | this disorder.Like many teachers, in todays |
| example, if we focus on the medical aspect ADHD, | | | | educational settings, I come in daily contact with |
| the medical practitioner is commonly consulted to | | | | students diagnosed with various disabilities, including |
| determined if the child meets the criteria for ADHD | | | | ADHD. Therefore I have a profound sense of |
| as required by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of | | | | resentment toward those who support the beliefs |
| Mental Disorder (DSM IV). The evaluating physicians | | | | that ADHD is not a legitimate illness but nothing more |
| are also called upon for advice and to prescribe | | | | than a label created specifically to absolve parents |
| treatment for the disorder. However, most physicians | | | | and teachers of their responsibility to manage |
| with a very active practice cannot devote the time | | | | uncontrollable children. However, I can understand |
| that is necessary with the family to review the | | | | how the uninformed and those who choose to view |
| nature and causes of ADHD and the multi-disciplinary | | | | ADHD from a distance might easily be led astray. For |
| approach to treating the disorder. Therefore, there is | | | | example, many of us at some point exhibit some of |
| an elevated risk that the doctor may inadvertently | | | | the symptoms common of ADHD. We sometime get |
| reinforce existing fears and misconceptions about | | | | distracted, we have trouble finishing assigned work or |
| ADHD in the minds of family members.With this in | | | | completing other important tasks. On the other hand, |
| mind we can understand how crucial the | | | | children with ADHD are, in most case, less able to |
| multi-disciplinary team and their experiences working | | | | care for themselves, less able to behave |
| with and supporting families throughout the | | | | appropriately in social setting; and less able to |
| interviewing and consulting process. Research shows | | | | communicate on the same level as other children of |
| that family's reaction may directly influence parental | | | | the same age.Phantom SymptomsFinal, for unknown |
| attitudes, the child, and their actions with him or her. | | | | reason, symptoms indicating the present of ADHD |
| It is an accepted fact that parents' attitude is | | | | may temporarily be absent leading others to believe |
| affected by the information received, compassionate | | | | that the person with ADHD can control the behaviors. |
| understanding, and the level of attention shown by | | | | Also, a definite diagnosis is difficult because there are |
| the physician and other professionals sharing the | | | | no tests that can consistently detect ADHD. A |
| news. This article, in my opinion, is a road map that | | | | physician can only observe behaviors and offer a |
| can guide families through the process and help the | | | | professional conclusion weather the child has ADHD. |
| team to develop strategy to reduce family members' | | | | If a child is having trouble concentrating, or may be |
| anxities.Because ADHD has received mass media | | | | unwilling to cooperate on the day they see the |
| attention in recent years many in the general public | | | | doctor this could lead to an incorrect diagnosis. |
| have reached an opinion about ADHD that is not | | | | Therefore, it is very important that ADHD be |
| supported by scientific facts. I offer this brief quote | | | | diagnosed by health care professionals that specializes |
| from the article to established a foundation for the | | | | in these types of disorders with the help and |
| unsupported, but wide, belief about ADHD. The | | | | cooperation of parents and teachers.DeMarle D.J., |
| authors described the verbal exchange between Don | | | | Denk L., Ernsthausen C.S. (2003) Working with the |
| and Mary Butler (pseudonym) who had just been told | | | | Family of a Child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity |
| by their pediatrician that their son Tommy had ADHD | | | | Disorder. Pediatric Nursing, Vol. 29 (4), 302-308.Dr. |
| and suggests Ritalin as the appropriate treatment. | | | | William Smith is a psychologist and consultant with |
| Don turns to Mary and said, "See I told you he was | | | | many years experience working with families and |
| just a lazy and rotten kid, even the doctor thinks so; | | | | individuals, including those who have a child with |
| that's why he is putting him on medication."ADHD | | | | disability. For additional information, Dr. Smith can be |
| Real or Imagined? Don is expressing a widely held | | | | contacted by completing the contact form at: Dr. |
| belief that ADHD is not a legitimate medical illness. It | | | | Smith will give a FREE initial assessment to any one |
| has been suffested that many in the medical | | | | who request such. |
| community has strayed from the scientific path and | | | | |