emeraldkity4

How many times have you heard someone say, "That kid is soooo ADD" or "My teacher is so boring; I think I have ADD" ??

Never actually
There is quite a stigma still towards any type of brain difference
Whether it is early onset Alzheimers,dyslexia, depression,OCD or ADHD.
When new medications are brought on the market with the hope that people who previously havent been getting help, for whatever reason, either because the side affects from current medications are too severe, or they just don't work, there are also new articles stating that this medication will be over used by people who cant just accept their limitations and work as hard as the rest of us.

Unfortunately, while ADHD has been studied extensively, some of the most effective medication is too expensive for ins companies to cover, as well as the worry of taking any medication at all, even if it helps a little.

I had been treated for depression previously, and the medication for that, was so strong that I couldn't get to a theraputic dose because of side effects.
I now believe, that it was primarily my ADD, and inability to manage that ( as well as not being diagnosed correctly) that was the primary problem and was contributing to the depression. ( only recently have those without the hyperactive aspect have also been considered to have ADHD- and some Drs also are still unaware that it isnt something that is "grown out of"

We have much research- indicating that not only have we found genetic markers for ADHD, but we have research that illustrates that those with ADHD have brains that operate differently than neurotypical brains, and we can identify where those differences are- doing similar tasks.

Since it benefits a society to have as large of a percentage of its population functioning at as high a level as they can, I dont understand the resistance by some to deny that a difference like ADHD exists, particulary when it has been known to exist by hundreds of thousands of individuals and medical doctors all over the world for years.

qozon

its damn near impossible for people that dont have ADHD/ADD to empathize with it isnt it.

Sarahsmom42

qozon is absolutely right. If you don't have a child with ADHD or you don't have it yourself, you have no place commenting on it.

Ferny Reyes

I'm an ADHD kid at Yale without any meds. I've lived my life without them, and while I lose everything, have trouble being organized, sitting down, standing still, etc. I have an energy that nobody around me does. I am fully aware of the complications, but at the same time, I rather be this hyperactive, somewhat childish big kid than dull.

But that's just me. I can still function without meds. For those that need them, eh.

twista

ADHD is not a real problem. Its called laziness. It is not easy for anyone to focus at school. No one enjoys studying and its hard for everyone. Suck it up and stop copping out and getting your stupid little pills. Pills do nothing except get rid of the problem when you are taking them they dont make you change.

FlyLikeAPenguin

yes, there are a lot of people "diagnosed" with adhd that do not have it, but that is no excuse to dismiss it as lazieness for those of us that are actually affected by it. it's over diagnosed because they hand out amphetamines to any parent who says their little kid runs around in circles all day driving them nuts. those people aside, adhd is very real. unfortunately, they do not require a complete evaluation to be given to kids before they are diagnosed, because they are too expensive. i endured 8 hours of testing, which concluded that i had very obvious adhd. (inattentive type) i was called lazy by my teacher and parents throughout school, even though i always had good grades. i didn't understand why people thought i wasn't trying hard, because i was really doing the VERY best that i could.

InquilineKea

If an alternative is viable, then why force students to go through class lectures?

There are differences in personality and learning style between students. This follows from basic predictions from evolutionary psychology/behavioral genetics. It logically follows that students will find some environments more stimulating than other environments.

The problem is that the educational system assumes a one-size-fits-all curriculum for all students. This completely disregards the variation in personality types between students.

Those with ADD may be seen as lazy in a traditional environment. The problem is that we have not even seen how well they would do in an alternative environment. It consists of the lack of imagination among those in the educational industry.

Has any student been exposed to video lectures instead of in-class lectures? One may bring in the cliched argument that students learn better than someone is physically present - but that argument again betrays a lack of imagination - since these same people have not envisioned an alternative way of learning to compare it with. Of course the current learning paradigm will be the best paradigm if there is no alternative. If you compare two inefficient programs with each other, one will be better than another, even if they are both inefficient. Moreover, video lectures can be massly distributed with little cost, and can come from the best teachers in the nation. When a student's mind wanders, he falls behind in a traditional classroom. In a video lecture, he can pause it.

Not to mention that some people don't even need lectures to learn the course material. The educational institution is structured in such a way such that people become psychologically dependent on schools in order to learn the material. School sucks? Blame the school, not yourself. Why don't they have the imagination to just self-study the material instead? Lectures may be informal, but so are many instructive books that are highly regarded. Moreover, most of one's learning is done independently of the institution. Yet, people believe that they need to take a course to learn the material. As if there wasn't an alternative, such as *gasp* checking out a library book on the subject!

The problem is, that within the traditional learning environment, that those with some personality types cannot focus at all unless they get medication. Research clearly demonstrates that willpower spent on one task will diminish the amount of willpower available for another task. It's known as "ego depletion," or "thought suppression produces a rebound effect". Link: http://www.psy.fsu.edu/~baumeisterti...depletion.html. It's not their fault that they were biologically this way.

I'm going to be among the first to try this. I'm going to skip all the rest of my lecture courses, and make an arrangement to self-study the rest of my college-level material with professors (using resources like MIT OCW and Stanford EPGY). I have no other alternative than to fail courses. And I'm no idiot. I self-studied 4 APs in 10th grade, with 3 5's and 1 4, and I got 790 Chem and 800 Math IICs in the same year. Some with ADD have problems with tests, some don't. Tests, at least, are a form of active learning. And at least the Collegeboard is willing to provide accommodations.

InquilineKea

I accidentally posted this in the Adderall thread.

InquilineKea

Incidentally, VTBoy seems to primarily post in the Business Major forum. While most business majors are relatively innocuous, it does appear that a relatively large number of intolerant people (who believe that everyone is capable of an equal amount of success in society, and that those who do not achieve "success" are lazy, rather than procuring a disadvantaged position on the lottery of birth) do come to business.

Sarahsmom42

It is possible that ADD/ADHD is over diagnosed, but why would people be angry about it? Simulants like Ritalin and Addreral are often used to treat ADHD. Do you know what happens when you give someone a stimulant that does not have the disorder? They become MORE hyperactive. It only works if you actually HAVE ADD.
I have lived w/ADHD my entire life. I have ten times the energy of the average person & I've NEVER been called lazy. I'm a hard worker, but not always an effective one.
I am very curious. Why would anyone who does not have ADHD or is not struggling to help someone who has it be interested in this thread? Do you really have so much time on your hands that you just randomly search CC for topics? What is it about ADHD or people taking medication for it that is so threatening to some people?

arizonamom

Sound like a suck it up be strong, get over it mentality. Folks who have ADHD and don't get treatment can end up self medicating through drugs and alcohol. That is extremely common and more dangerous then getting prescribed medication under the care of a physician. There is a time and place for everything even medication especially when it makes a huge difference in students learning and ability to attend and retain information. My D is on medication, she did fine in high school but had difficulty when it came down to 3 hr standardized tests and with the amount of reading required in college. Once she was on medication she was not late for everything, not overscheduling and was able to complete her reading and do well in school. Without it she had to reread chapters 3 times. She is not lazy, works 2 jobs, volunteers and is in an honors program.

red sox 7327

I'll take it a step further. I have Tourette's Syndrome and when I see groups on facebook about people who wish they had Tourette's...well... it eats me up inside. I don't really have a problem with people making fun of the disorder because back in the day when I only had muscle tics, I also thought it was funny when I saw the infamous Deuce Bigalow movie. But believe me when I say that you would not wish it upon your worst enemy. It is kind of like constant cocaine withdrawal with some additional annoyances.


I haven't taken any medication in a couple years and while it was my hope to continue without them like you have, I am most likely going to have to go back to some type of medication. While my ADHD is somewhat negated by my OCD (in terms of the forgetfulness), Tourette's is one of the most mentally draining disorders one could imagine.

In terms of ADHD, though, the actuality of the disorder comes to fruition when combined with Tourette's. When reading a book, for example, I tense my eyes at the sharp corners of page, jitter my eyes up and down, purposefully blur my vision, tense my jaw, and constantly think about a million other things. If I could focus on the task at hand (if I didn't have ADHD), things would be slightly easier, but the fact that my mind is always thinking about performing random tics and about random events in general, it is a real struggle.

Is ADD/ADHD over diagnosed? Probably, but it is definitely a reality for some individuals.

mythmom

Most experts think ADD is actually under diagnosed. I don't notice people suggested asthma (my disease) is "over medicated" although there are people who refuse to take their asthma meds.

I don't understand the Puritanical attitude expressed here by some posters. Why would people ruin their lives by being "lazy" if they had a choice? If you have no choice we have to assume the cause is psychological trauma or organic. Iin the case of ADD scientists have demonstrated that the cause is organic. (See emerarldkity4's post.) If the cause is organic, medication provides a reasonable response, just as in diabetes or asthma.

I don't have ADD, but my son does (as well as my husband). I got tremendous hostility from thr community when I had him diagnosed and treated (in fifth grade) because he was a straight A, extremely well-behaved student. However it would take him four hours to write two paragraphs!

Presently, he is graduating high school with incredible stats and going to Williams. The medication doesn't cure his ADD; it just helps him manage it. Believe me, it gives him no unfair advantage and requires many sacrifices. For instance, he is less spontaneous and less creative on his medication. However, without it he can barely read or do math. I'm glad I don't have to make this choice.

There was a time when people denied the germ theory and hundreds of thousands of women died of childbed fever. Because you have never seen ADD doesn't mean it doesn't exist. And if you are not a sufferer, researcher or xlinician what would make you think you're an expert with a valid opinion?

mkm56

Well stated mythmom

spirit892

I have ADD myself, and was diagnosed in 7th grade. As a straight A student, I never had any problem before then, but when I was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder and SAD, the doctor also said I had ADD. For someone who doesn't have the condition, you have no place saying that it doesn't exist. Try living in my head for a day and see if you like it.