stevensmama

Billions of people lived completely productive lifes before the discovery of antibiotics, too. So?

ChoklitRain

Direct quote from kid I know: "My SAT score was only a 1900, which isn't good enough for Columbia. So my parents are trying to get me diagnosed for ADD this weekend. I think I can hit 2100 with extra time and some more practice."

He was diagnosed with ADD, even though there's nothing wrong with him. He's just lazy as hell.

jym626

^^^ The process for getting accomodations from CollegeBoard is pretty complex. Even if he would be "diagnosed this weekend" (LOL) the process and materials necessary to apply for and document accomodations is comprehensive, and he'd have to have already had them in place and used them in school to be considered for them by CB

itsmethere

Just so that you don't think that all people with LD/ADD abuse accommodations or have fake diagnoses. Just as there are people who take advantage of the system, some do not use the accommodations to which they may be entitled because of never having been LD tested or just wanting to prove to themselves that they can compete on equal terms.

I have a very severe LD which is a result of cerebral palsy (perinatal brain damage). However, I took all my SAT tests in high school without accommodations because I was not tested for LD at this point (and got a 1350 out of 1600 on the old SAT by the way). I always had difficulties in school but was never tested for LD because of always getting excellent grades due to excruciating effort and because of not wanting to be labeled due to self-perceived stigma. I only got tested my sophomore year of college because schoolwork became unbearable and I just couldn't do it anymore.

Widget

I find it sad that just because a child (or adult) has ADD/ADHD, they are not considered "at the same level" as a "normal person".
Those with ADD are lazy, and procrastinate, they watch TV when they should probably be doing their homework, drink caffeinated drinks, eat sugary foods and complain about school. The great thing is, so do most teenagers, regardless of whether or not they have a "disorder". What seperates those with ADD from those without, is simply the fact that the ADD brain is different from a "normal" brain. The sad fact is that the ADD brain is not...compatible (I'm searching for the right word)...with our current educational system, or many of the social institutions that we rely on daily.
Medication is currently the most effective way for those with ADD to cope with the way the world works. What is required for those with ADD to be able to stop relying on medication is a complete overhaul of our ideas about teaching children, compassion, and understanding from the general public in regards to the FACTS about this disorder.
Since none of those three things seems to be on the immediate horizon, those with ADD are left with medication, family, friends and determination to cope with their own differences and challenges.
Each case of ADD is different, therefore some with the disorder do not need (or do not benefit from) medication. Attacks upon those who do choose to take medication is merely another example of the social stigmas that people with mental disorders deal with on a daily basis.
ADD is merely another facet of human diversity, but unfortunately it is misunderstood, abused and belittled on a daily basis. I admit, acceptance and support, not medication are the final solution for ADD. But our society seems willing to supply neither. I look forward to the day when I can acheive academically at a level proportionate to my abilities without medication, but I doubt that day will come while I am in school.

mnmom62

You usually can't get time accommodations from College Board or ACT unless you have been using them regularly for years under a 504 plan or an IEP.

You really can't run out over the weekend and get a dx and then persuade a school to give you a 504 or an IEP the next week. That's not how it works.

jym626

^^^ It doesnt necessarily require that the student have had the accomodations in place "for years", but yes, agreed that the CB wont consider accomodations unless the student has qualified for them and used them in the school for at least 4 mos (that was the # last I heard some time back) before CB will consider the request.

icedragon

Until you have lived with it, you know nothing.

A doc once put me on meds for it and it turned me into a zombie. I no longer take meds because it just doesn't work very well for me. I instead point myself towards goals, like things i wanna do during the week and such.

jym626

There are several ADHD subtypes, and if medication is indicated, people sometimes have to try different ones and/or at different doses to get the best effect with the fewest side effects. You don't have to live with it to know something about symptom management.

Yakyu Spirits

Instead of disciplining the child, just give it medication!

momma17777

As the parent of a gifted kid who probably should have been evaluated more carefully for ADD, I think the real problem here is not the kids or adults who have ADD or ADHD but rather with our society's response to their challenges. I also have a child with autism and I can say that from experiences there that our society simply isn't advance enough to deal with differences of the mind. If its a physical difference that you can see, we can deal with it and go out of our way to make accommodations. But, like most diagnosis of the mind, since we cannot see it, we simply think most are making it up and not working hard enough to overcome it. My son does have ADD according to medical professionals, but the public school system chose to ignore his and my requests for help since they were reaping the benefits of his test scores and awards for their PR. Now, his grades aren't really a true indication of his abilities and he will be made to pay to price thorugh denials to the types of colleges he wishes to attend. He will work twice as hard as others who cruised through school with his tutoring and on his coat tails. But, he now knows what he needs to do and is determined to do it. Too bad instead of simply labeling them to make public instruction easier for the administrators, we cannot just give them a better system of education which might use their great ideas, creativity and ability to assume risk and channel it in a constructive manner.

jcadrep

I think you guys are missing the point here: you are making the claim that because lazy children are given ritilin concerta or aderall and being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD that children with this actual condition just need to work hard. This is not true at all. I am a student with ADHD, and it is a struggle for me everynight to do my homework due to the fact that my meds have worn off. This is not to say that im lazy or not hardworking( or redundent hehe) rather it is to say that I sit down to do my homework but i continually get distracted. The medicine does make a difference.

Also, people have been making the claim that if a non add child is given a prescription he will automatically sucseed, this is not true. I know many kids on meds for add/adhd, some of which i believe need it others of which i beleive are just belowaverage ( just like my spelling is). The meds dont help the kids that are below average and can work wonders for true add/adhd children.

IN REGARDS TO "DISCIPLIN", IT SIMPLY DOESNT WORK WIT ADD/ADHD KIDS I am 17 years of age and i still do stupid thoughtless things--such as yelling out in class, spilling things, talking to loudly--when i dont take my meds even though ive been " punished " for them my entire life, the problem with add/adhd ers is that they do not think through their actions, so there is no " if i do this than this will happen to me" thought process, so he or she will not think not to do something in order to avoid it.

Im not saying everykid out there with a prescription has a disorder, im just saying adhd is a real thing

NapoleonInRags

Yakyu, we're not talking about misbehaving, we're talking about learning disabilities and all that goes with it. You're coming at this with a very ignorant perspective.

Widget, good post

NapoleonInRags

mikek -- you are generalizing your personal experience with ADD to all those with ADD to claim that people are cruising through life.

Longhaul

My ADD son was tested at a 139-142 IQ at variuous ages in his life before being diagnosed with ADD. He has also "thought" differently, earned great grades and worked hard.

He is NOT lazy. Just the total opposite -- multi-task to distraction. Since diagnosis he has been medicated. He has no school accomodations (he is too embarrassed). The meds have not "increased" scores for him nor have they suddenly made him an organized success, rather they have reduced a severe amount of frustration & stress.

I disagree ADD is overdiagnosed. It took us months of testing, considerable $$$ in private testing, and much input from teachers, coaches, etc. to get our diagnosis. We simply did not walk into our doctor's office & receive a prescription.

My heart goes out to those who can not afford the in-depth evaluations.