ADHD, A recognized medical condition, It must be very hard for parents to deal with a child with this condition...

[Bobbisox]

There was a programme on BBC2 about it last night where it showed an American couple who were giving their son all sorts of drugs to calm him down, anybody could say "I would never give my kid medication " but having seen a clip of it today, I see the reasons behind it.
Another thing that really puzzled me was why , when I was growing up and even when my daughter was at school, and there were unruly kids on both counts, did I never hear of it, is it still a relatively new phenomenon?
perhaps sqad could answer,
Bobbi ♥

[ummmm]

They were considered naughty kids. Many of them got expelled from school due to their behaviour. It might be the behaviour of such children that made them study the reasons behind it.

Like autism....these children were just considered odd.

[Bobbisox]

a good answer there ummm

[ummmm]

I'd certainly give my child drugs. One of the girls stopped taking her meds just for the programme. You could see her behaviour change really quickly.

[Old_Geezer]

Trouble is, one can label & explain away any behaviour given enough understanding.
Question is what is the best way to deal with a problem. And accepting that limited knowledge may change the practical answer to that one over time.

So, yesteryear we have troublemakers who would not behave, today we have folk with a problem who can not behave.

[Bobbisox]

I didn't see it only a clip but heard this to be the case, I think for the childs safety any parent would consider this option

[jake-the-peg]

It's been about for a long time 1902 was one key year

http://en.wikipedia.o...yperactivity_disorder

The thing is there is no good physological test for it - you can't take a blood sample and say yep that's ADHD any more than you can with Autism.

It's also a spectrum situation where some people are mildly affected some more so and some badly - it's hard to draw a sharp line between suffers and those who don't quite qualify.

Whether there are more sufferers today or it's just better diagnosis is hard to say.

My son was diagnosed with it although not suffering from the destructively overactive symptoms. He tried Ritalin for a while but found the side affects too difficult.

[Sqad]

bobbi...LOL...you are asking the wrong person here as I have never been a "supporter" of the new found Psychiatric disorders in either adults or particularly children.
I am no qualified to answer....but that does not stop me from offering an opinion ;-

I have never been convinced that AHDH is other than a name conveniently given to naughty children. I have seen no evidence either on biochemical grounds, genetic grounds or neuro-radiology to show an abnormality.

Bit "old fashioned" eh bobby ;-)

[jake-the-peg]

Have you ever seen biochemical or neurological evidence for Autism sqad?

[Bobbisox]

it was quite an insight to the condition but again I was puzzled by never hearing about it myself, thanks guys for your imput though

[Sqad]

jake...no.........but that doesn't mean there isn't one, perhaps it just hasn't been found.

P.S I am just as sceptical about Autism as I am about ADHD.

[ummmm]

You wouldn't be if you had an autistic child Sqad....believe me.

[Bobbisox]

I can' t go that far sqad, I have a friend who has a mildly autistic grandson, I have seen certain elements of his behaviour and I have also witnessed severe autism when I worked in retail
There but for the grace of God go I

[pastafreak]

I can think of at least two well-respected members of this site who have autistic children...and I know both would see red at such comments.

[Bobbisox]

not by me I hope pasta?
I feel a lot for these people and their parents

[jake-the-peg]

That's my point.

Because we don't have a physiological or biological test for a disorder doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Nobody would doubt Autism's existance because it's so debilitating but with the other autistic spectrum disorders this lack of physical diagnostic tends to make people think "excuse for bad parenting"

However there are physical clues. For example this is much more commonly seen in boys than girls and does tend to run in families (Personally I and my uncle sound as if we were/are sufferers)

There is also interesting work regarding a correlation between ADHD and low dopamine receptors http://www.medpagetod...atrics/ADHD-ADD/15872 for example but google ADHD and dopamine and you'll see what I mean.

Remember too that Ritalin and other treatments are not downers but stimulants.

I rather suspect that we are on the verge of understanding ADHD and it's cousins ADHD=naughty children may soon sound as silly as treating someone with leeches

[bobjugs12]

Sqad.
I counter your argument with the fact I have three kids, twpo duaghters and a son. My son is high-functioning autistic. By your statement you are sceptical that it exists, so explain the fact my son has hypersnesitvity to certain textures, a lack of social skils, echolalia, is completely Michael-centric and all the other aspects that he displays. Then explain to me why, when there is no difference in the way he was treated (pre-diagnosis) to my daughters that they do not dispaly any of these traits.

[Bobbisox]

it is certainly a facinating insight jtp, it's easy to see a really badly behaved child when your'e out and think
W-tf...but looking deeper it is a sad thing for both the parents and child involved

[jake-the-peg]

Don't forget that there are plenty of badly behaved kids out there and they look like ADHD sufferers.

One of the key things that was used in my son's diagnosis many years ago is that you find ADHD sufferers also have difficulty concentrating on things they like too.

[Sqad]

bobjugs...I can't.
I did say in my answer I was not qualified to answer.
Perhaps I did "push the boat out too far" in commenting on Autism when the question was on ADHD.

I alologise.

[pastafreak]

Of course not you Bobbie!
It's been shown that adults also suffer with ADHD....and for many it is a condition that is carried over from a childhood with the condition.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...n/adhd_adult_qa.shtml