ADHD: Form Your Own Opinion

The child who constantly interrupts, fidgets, disrupts, is lost in daydreams, or stands out from the rest of the students because of his high activity level, is often referred for ADHD screening. The teen who seems to spin out of control, experimenting with new found freedoms, even more than his peers, is often screened for ADHD.
The college student, away from home for the first time, free of the structure provided by family and high school, becomes overwhelmed by the demands and, unable to provide his own structure, falls apart, is often screened for ADHD..
The new employee, in his first job out of college, who can't get control of his finances, and finds his bank account in the red, month after month, is often screened for ADHD.

Please don't misunderstand. It makes sense, in each of the cases described, to consider the possibility of an Attention Deficit. However, with the need to address whatever behavior it is, which first calls one's attention to it, the good that comes along with ADHD is often overlooked. ADHD is by no means all bad. Like most things in life, it has its bad and its good. When properly diagnosed, and treated, ADHD can be managed and put in its place. However, when ADHD is under-treated, or untreated, the negative traits often dominate and the ADHD leads the individual, instead of the individual leading the ADHD. In one case, the person is a Victim of ADHD and in the other, the person is the Master of ADHD.

T.V. shows tend to refer to ADHD in a pejorative, or demeaning, way. If someone is upset, they are told to take a "chill pill." If they're forgetful, the script calls for them to be referred to as "ADD boy." T.V. shows, comedians, and talk show hosts, routinely make negative references to taking Ritalin. It is no wonder then, when someone is told they might have ADHD, a common initial reaction is to run as far away from the diagnosis as possible. The overwhelming message society gives about ADHD is that it is at best, a joke, and at worst, a fabricated condition by those who want to take the easy way out by popping pills, instead of taking responsibility for their actions. These beliefs are based on the wrong information, and a lack of accurate information. Such views should be consider for what they are: ill informed opinions, not facts. These wrongful messages do much damage to individuals struggling with this very real condition, and a disservice to society at large. Many people never get the help they need and consequently, live painful lives. Because they didn't know better, and were influenced by an attitude, opinion or misinformation, many are led to believe the wrong messages about ADHD. The end result is a large segment of society who do not receive treatment, and suffer a life of mis-steps.

What do you really know about ADHD? Can you sort out your beliefs to separate the true facts from opinion based on unsupported information?

Everyone has a right to their opinion. But only the ignorant form an opinion, and speak it out loud, without ever having done the appropriate research to back it up. Hearing something on a T.V. show, the news, reading about it in a magazine, newspaper, or on a website, does not necessarily make it true. Just because something is in print, or on a popular T.V. show does not mean it is a fact, based on scientific evidence. To form an informed, educated opinion on ADHD be sure your information comes from peer reviewed journals and is based on scientific evidence. Peer reviewed journals are the most reliable source of accurate, factual information. If you are considering a question that will impact the rest of your life, or the life of a loved one, you might as well go directly to the most accepted, reliable source rather than make your decision based on the uninformed opinion of a family member, friend, neighbor or acquaintance...or worse, on that of journalists, T.V. writers or talk show hosts. Consider what is at stake.

To be clear, no matter how well respected it is, a magazine is NOT a peer reviewed journal. Therefore, magazines are a good source of others views and opinions, but are not always reliable sources of facts. Read all the articles you can regarding ADHD. Just be sure to always consider the source, and decipher if the article is an opinion piece, or a research piece.

Once you have learned the facts about ADHD, consider speaking with several people who are well versed in the condition, through their own personal experience. If you're speaking with people about their own ADHD experience, be sure to find people on both sides of whatever question is of most concern to you. (Is ADHD a real condition or not? Should I take medication or not?) Listen to the stories they have to tell. Then, fairly and objectively, look at what you know about their situation, and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Are they happy?
2. Are they respected?
3. Are they liked by others?
4. Do they appear successful?
5. How do they perform socially?
6. Do they have good social skills?
7. Did, or do, they do well in school?
8. Do they have any substance abuse issues?
9. Do they always need to be the center of attention?
10. Are they frequently criticized, or made fun of, by others?
11. Are they moody, or difficult to be around, on a regular basis?
12. Do they always seem to have a problem or be complaining about something?
13 Are they frequently late, seemingly uncaring about the impact on others?
14. Are they able to sustain long term relationships with employers, friends, and a romantic partner?

If you answered mostly YES to questions 1-7 and mostly NO to question 8-14, then that is someone who has figured out how to do things in the best way for them and maybe there is a lesson to be learned in the choices they made. However, if you answered mostly NO to questions 1-7 and mostly YES to questions 8-14 you have found someone who has not yet figured out how to deal with their personal weaknesses. It might not be a good idea to follow their lead.

Hopefully, proper research, and the exercise above, will provide the information you need to make an informed decision of your own. If not, or if you are not likely to read peer reviewed journal articles, here are just a few ADHD facts to get you started!

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a specific medical condition. It is a physiological developmental disorder describing specific behavioral difficulties. ADHD is characterized by multiple symptoms of persistent, and dysfunctional, patterns of overactivity, or underactivity, motivation, impulsiveness, inattention, and distractibility (Murphy, Cowan& Sederer, 2001).

* ADHD affects an estimated 4.1% of youths, age 9 to 17, in a six-month period.
* About 2 to 3 times more boys that girls have ADHD.
* There are 1 to 3 children with ADHD in every classroom of 30 students.
* Children with untreated ADHD have higher than normal rates of injury.
* ADHD, WHEN UN, OR UNDERTREATED, often co-occurs with other problems, such as depressive and anxiety disorders, conduct disorder, drug abuse, or antisocial behavior.
* Symptoms of ADHD usually become evident in preschool, or during the early elementary years, though not always detected so early.
* The condition often persists into adulthood, requiring lifelong treatment.
* Sixty to seventy percent of children with ADHD grow up to have active Adult ADD
* Over 2 ½ million school children are considered to have ADHD
* Over 50% of children with ADHD stay behind a grade in school
* Over 46% of ADHD children are suspended at least once
* Over 10% of ADHD children are expelled at least once

People with ADHD experience harmful consequences as a result of their behavior. They frequently experience peer rejection, as well as academic, employment, relationship and social difficulties which may have long-term effects. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) children with ADHD may also have conduct disorder, experience drug abuse, exhibit antisocial behavior, and incur injuries of all sorts. For many individuals, the impact of ADHD continues into adulthood (NIMH, 2000)

ADD frequently occurs in conjunction with other conditions, which can often cloud the diagnostic issue. It can be difficult to separate the ADHD symptoms from those of the co-occurring conditions, as there can be significant symptom overlay with Learning Disabilities, Language Disorders, Mood Disorders, and Anxiety Disorders.

Difficulties with memory, cognitive processing, sequencing, motor skills, social skills, modulation of emotional response, and response to discipline are commonly associated with ADHD. Sleep disorders are also more prevalent in children who suffer from ADHD. (NIMH, 2000).

At its most harmless, adult ADHD is a disadvantage, both personally and professionally. At its worst, it can actually be dangerous. Research shows that adults with ADHD have much higher risk for certain problems than adults who don't have ADHD. Adults with ADHD are:

~ 2x more likely to rarely or never use BIRTH CONTROL
~ 4x more likely to contract a SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE
~ 3x more likely to be UNEMPLOYED
~ 2x more likely to have PROBLEMS keeping friends
~ 47% more likely to have trouble PAYING BILLS
~ Over 75% of people with ADHD get divorced

The prevalence of ADHD among adults in the U.S. is conservatively estimated at 4%. That means, out of 280 million people, roughly 8.5 million have ADHD, of whom less than 1,000,000 have been diagnosed and treated!

SOURCES:

* Barkley, R. ADHD Fact Sheet. (2001).
* Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders (CHADD). (2001). The Disorder Named
* AD/HD - CHADD Fact Sheet #1. 2001.
* National Institute of Mental Health. (1998). Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention Deficit
* Hyperactivity Disorder. NIH Consensus Statement Online 1998 Nov 16-18.16(2):1-37. [Online].
* Available:http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/add/nimh/diagnosis_treatment.htm.[November 2002].
* National Institute of Mental Health. (2000). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Questions and
* Answers. [Online]. Available: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhdqa.cfm. [June 2002].
* MediFocus. (2002). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [Online]. Available:
* http://www.medifocus.com/guide_detail.asp?gid=PS001&a=a. [June 2002].
* Murphy, M. J., Cowan R. L., and Sederer, L.L. (2001). Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence.
* Second Edition. Blueprints in Psychiatry. (pp. 40-41). Malden, Mass: Blackwell Science, Inc.
* Available:http://consumersresearchcncl.org/Healthcare/psych/psych_articles.htm#add
* Available: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/122/114733

CONTENT:
The information on this blog is intended as educational only. It should not be construed as psychotherapy, psychiatry, psychology or medical practice or treatment. The information herein should not substitute for your doctor's, or therapist's, advice. If you have, or suspect that you have, a medical condition, contact your health care provider immediately.

ADS:
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