Can I vent? - ADD

ammommy wrote: Why is it that so many parents try to pin their children's behavior on ADD? I know that there are some cases of true ADD and I understand that it is a legitimate disease. This vent isn't aimed towards them. However, in the last few days I have run into 3 parents that just drive me nuts! Two of the three were bragging that they finally found docs that agreed to medicate their 5/6yo sons for treatment for ADD. I know one of these parents well, and her son's problem is most likely a total lack of discipline. The child rules the roost (think SuperNanny behavior). Each of these parents went to at least 4 docs before finding someone who would drug their children.
The third parent, I don't know really well, but it's the same story except her son is 3 and she only had to go to 2 docs before she found one that would OK treatment. I'm sorry, but if, and that's a big if, her child is ADD, isn't 3 too early to diagnose? I just don't see why these parents are taking the "easy" way out and it just pi$$es me off

mom21kid2dogs replied: Well, the great thing about ADHD meds is they don't work unless the kid has ADHD! Reputible docs will also refer their patients to parent mentors and the kids to OT and other therapies that help them manage their disability. Unfortunately, reputible docs are kinda hard to find. JMO, but those situations should never be DX by MD, only psychiatrists. Docs don't have the training or experience.

MomToMany replied: Well said Cheryl!!

I agree that parents look for an easy way out or some magic pill that will solve their child's behavior issues, when in fact, it's the PARENTS who need the help, but refuse to get it because its too much work. I have a sister who's kids are wild, really wild, and she can't even control them anymore. It's so sad; they have no structure in their lives. I don't even want them around my kids.

kimberley replied: ugh! don't even get me started on this subject . i am right there with you on this one! so many parents and teachers are too quick to say, "oh that child is ADD/ADHD" and run for the nearest pharmacy instead of looking at what is ACTUALLY causing the child's behaviour problems in the first place. is medication going to take over the role of parenting?? drug them enough so we don't have to do anything?! gimme a break! a lot of these "fake cases" are children with little to no discipline or routine and it is the PARENTS fault, not the kids! and it is remedied by working hard to give your child the appropriate amount of love, discipline, attention and routine! not by drugs! i am so annoyed with parents that don't parent their kids then cry about their "problem" child . and some excitable behaviour is NORMAL! every kid is different. it frustrates me because i feel we are coming into an age where a lot of people want to mail order perfect little children who don't inconvenience them in any way. grrrrrrrrr.

mommy2owen replied: I cant stand it either!

My youngest brother (5) has ADHD, doctors put him on meds, and now he is ALMOST a perfect little boy. I have a friend who claims her 8 yo has ADHD, she says the doctors gave her meds for her kid and it dosent work. When, exactly what Cheryl said, they dont work unless the kid actually has it!

TANNER'S MOM replied: I agree totally! We live in a time when parents can't say my kids are acting up, or I am not giving them what we need, there fore lets medicate. I think we also have some teachers out there..who help in this. The child maybe difficult, and they don't have time( I know that is a goverment issue too) to deal with it..

Our society has let this go to far...Lack of discipline and attention is the number one reason kids act up.

I do believe in this disease, but I also believe it has become a crutch for parents..

ammommy replied: Oh, teachers "diagnosing" the disease is a whole other post. Don't even get me started on that What so many parents don't realize (or just don't care to realize) is that it takes so much testing to actually diagnose a legitimate case of ADD/ADHD and real treatment also involves counseling.

kimberley replied: and, according to Dr Phil's expert, the only way you can diagnose ADD/ADHD is if the child has a cat scan done to monitor brain activity. MOST cases, the scan is NOT done!!

ammommy replied:
Is that the doc who recommends treating behavior with foods? At first I thought he was nuts, then I thought about how I feel when I get too much/not enough of some food or other.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
Actually, that is a totally false claim. ADHD is a neurologically based problem, not a dietary one. If one notices that dietary changes (ie, cutting out wheat, gluten, sugaretc) makes a huge difference in a child's behavior one is dealing with food sensitivities/allergies, not a neurological impairment. Ironically, the behavior can look very similar (rages, innattention, high activity, etc).

kimberley replied: yes, it is. Dr Frank Lawlis. it makes a lot of sense, and it is funny because right after i saw that show, the school psychologist called me and told me she had to cancel her afternoon observation and testing with Jacob because he was bouncing off the walls from a cupcake he got in class for some kid's b-day! did you watch "Super Size Me"? if you haven't, i suggest you do because it is a good documentary. it just makes sense that putting all that crap in our bodies will enventually take its toll.


here is a link to the show if you are interested... Dr. Phil ADD show

ammommy replied:
That's what this doc said. Many times, children are misdiagnosed with ADHD when in fact, it's a food/behavior issue.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
Sorry for the misread. I thought you were referring to small faction of "doctors" who believe ADHD is dietarily based and can be "cured" by eating the right combination of foods!
I worked with several families who bought that line (we had a practice of pediatric DO's who would only treat ADHD in this manner), kept up an extremely labor intensive(albeit healthy ) dietary plan for upto a year and not one ever saw any result. These were really great parents who were looking for any alternative to drug therapy. Those therapies do exisit but they are not in the dietary line.

loveydad replied: Totally. My son has adhd. but he wasn't even diagnosed until he was 15!! I mean saying a hyper kid at age 3 is add is WRONG! Medicating these children is WRONG!