The Wild Child
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MYTHS ABOUT ADHD
- ADD/ADHD only affects children - It is difficult to estimate how
many ADHD children become ADHD adults, but it's thought to be around the 50%
mark! Although hyperactivity subsides later in life, in its place is left an
overwhelming feeling of restlessness. Also, many of the planning and organization
problems encountered by the ADHD child are taken into adulthood.
- Parents are to blame for their children's condition - Many parents
are told that by the very people who they go to for help. People who blame
parents for this condition are ignorant, stupid, or even possibly, both. For
the parent still struggling to find a reason for their child's problems, this
may be difficult to accept. There is nothing like a mother's guilt! With
education, of course, comes knowledge and once a parent accepts that they are
no more to blame than the parent of a physically disabled child, they can move
forward in a positive fashion.
- More boys than girls have ADHD - Apart from girls manifesting the
symptoms differently than boys, there has also been much LESS research done on
females. On top of this, the diagnostic criteria, which fits the male model of
ADHD, is still used as a tool for diagnosing girls. Boys frequently stick out
more because of their boisterous, overactive behavior. It is thought that more
girls have the "spacey ADD" and have more learning difficulties than
their male counterparts.
- ADD is over-diagnosed - This depends on how you look at it.
However, it's believed that ADHD is under-diagnosed in Great Britain at the
present time. One reason is because parents are afraid to bring their suspected
ADHD children into the doctor. Unfortunately, they're concerned about the use
of stimulant medication in treating children. The media here has presented a
very negative picture of that.
What these people are forgetting though, is not all ADHD-diagnosed children are
on medication. Some parents use other strategies such as dietary measures,
homeopathy and nutritional supplements, to name just a few. Many parents are
now wanting to try the natural or holistic approaches to managing ADHD.
- Ritalin zonks out children or turns them into zombies - Complete
rubbish. These emotive statements are put out by extremists who know little
about ADHD and it's effects. Like ANY medication, the pros and cons have to be
looked at before taking any course. Stimulants do have side-effects sometimes.
These are well documented. A parent or practitioner looks at these possible
side-effects and weighs them up against the possible improvement in the quality
of life of the sufferer. No one forces anyone to take stimulant medication. If
a parent finds that Ritalin doesn't suit her child, she is at liberty to take
the child off.
- ADHD can be cured with the correct discipline - Unfortunately this
misconception is rife amongst other parents and many professionals. Parents of
ADHD children in fact instill MORE disciplinary measures than ordinary parents.
We have to, because our children challenge so many more boundaries. Another
thing to consider is the difference between inability and non-compliance.
Punishing a child for something that they have no control over is cruel. ADHD
kids don't enjoy being in trouble the whole time and do not bring further
aggravation on themselves for amusement. Anyone who says ADHD can be cured by
discipline is misguided.
- A child who can concentrate sometimes, can't have ADHD - A child who
can't concentrate on mundane, boring or repetitive tasks can actually
hyper-focus on something which he or she is really interested in. Computer
games, and the like, are very stimulating to the ADHD child. It's a
"one-on-one" situation and there's usually plenty of action to keep
their interest. Because they can concentrate on something which they are REALLY
interested in, it doesn't mean they CAN'T have ADHD.
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