As in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DISEASE? Well according to one of the experts cited in this article, ADHD is a disease process. And it can be observed with biological markers
But that test won’t be available any time soon, especially because there appear to be a large number of variations in DNA that predispose a person to ADHD, the article states.
A large number of variations in DNA. Really now. I’d be fascinated to see if these scientists could quantify their data without a history of the uh, diseased, patients.
They also contend ADHD is “not a social construct” but a “hard and true disorder.”
Okay. Let’s see if I understand this. Much of the diagnostic criteria for ADHD revolves around a factory model approached classroom setting. And they’re telling me this is not a social construct?
I smell some spurious science at work here. (I wonder who sponsored the research.) But then again, there’s a lot of money and programs, yea verily, an entire INDUSTRY devoted to ADHD and its cousins.
Look, I know ADD/ADHD is real. I live with it every day. But I also know I get impatient, drink too much coffee and have brown eyes. It’s the way I am. It’s part of what makes me an individual. I don’t need medication for it.
People with ADHD are wired differently and don’t fit the classroom models very well. Do they have some challenging issues when it comes to sticking with a task or talking too much? Yep. Do they need some help with organizational skills. Yuppers. (And it occurred to me typing this that the organization obsession we have in America is really not so healthy anyway.) We’ve all got “issues.” Every single one of us.
Is this a DISEASE? No, no, a thousand times NO!
Parents, please don’t buy into these lies. Love your hyperactive bundle…and yeah, if your kid needs medication to manage some of the symptoms, no condemnation from this mom. We parents have to make some very tough decisions at times.
Find an environment where your child can thrive and cultivate the GIFTS that are part of ADHD. And yes, this may mean pulling him out of school and homeschooling him. (I never said this would be easy. Like you didn’t know that already.)
You may just be amazed at how your child blossoms.
Filed under: ADD/ADHD, education, homeschooling, parenting, PDD-NOS, Special Needs' Kids, The Mother Lode Project
Calling ADHD a disease really doesn’t bother me. To me, it’s a way of saying that the root cause is nature, not nurture and, honestly, that’s a relief.
I also happen to have a son whose ADHD symptoms are a direct result of a corn allergy. For reasons I don’t fully understand, his body reacts to corn the way most people would react to crack. By eliminating corn from his diet, I’ve essentially cured his ADHD. Corn allergies are fairly rare and yet he has a great aunt with a corn allergy. I do suspect that genetics (and possibly environmental pollutants) are at play.
Theresa you are so right that a child who doesn’t conform to the social construct of the school setting is not an abnormal child. School has evolved to fit the majority of children. Majority doesn’t mean all. Plenty of children (and adults) are better fits outside of the traditional school/work mold.
I suspect my father had ADHD & my hubby has similar behaviors. Me, I’m too lazy to have the H part. But assign me to a task and it takes five tries while bouncing between four other tasks. Do we need diagnoses? No, we’re all too old to worry about it. My father is gone, and my husband and I are pretty comfortable with who we are. We’ve learned to handle life in our own unique ways. Most of our projects never get totally finished but hey, we have fun doing them anyway!
A very high number of CEOs are supposed to be ADHD. A high number of entrepreneurs are supposed to be ADHD. This shouldn’t be surprising. It’s only a handicap if the square ADHD peg is shoved into the round hole of conformity. Neither is right, neither is wrong, they’re just different. Aren’t we supposed to celebrate diversity?
Mountainash…it truly is amazing how food sensitivities/allergies can affect kids behavior wise. And yes, environmental factors….genetics can play a role (much like eye color dominance.) I’m so glad you found the key to help your child!
Sheri- We joke that my hubby supplies the ADD and I add the H. But yeah…we function just fine.
I couldn’t agree more about the school models. Especially loved the comment about the square ADHD peg shoved into the round hole. Thank so much for commenting!
I have a grandson with ADHD. Life is also lonely for many ADHD people. They speak out without thinking and also take action without thinking. People are so ready to judge them without thinking about how their brain works. They’d rather make fun of them or leave them out of the soical picture. I sure wish teachers would have to take a course in college about ADHD before they teach. Isolation is not fun for anyone. Most people want to be accepted in life and those with ADHD are not any different.