something like ADD...which could honestly have been cured by parental discipline
I know I'm picking nits again, but if you don't know what you're talking about, you shouldn't be offering solutions.
Chris
I know
exactly what I'm talking about. For every person who really does have ADD, there's 10 other people on meds for it. It's fairly easy to tell who's who once you get the hang of it.
Go work at a school for one year and marvel at the sheer volume of people who supposedly have ADD. I do believe there is a real disorder somewhere in the middle of that mess, but the etiology of the disorder is so poorly defined, and the benefits of being diagnosed as having it are so great to medical care providers, parents, and students, it's such that everyone and their dog suddenly has "ADD".
What are the symptoms of ADD? Well I'm lazy so for the sake of brevity Wikipedia says this:
I. Either A or B:
A. Six or more of the following symptoms of inattention have been present for at least 6 months to a point that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:
1. Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.
2. Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities.
3. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
4. Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions).
5. Often has trouble organizing activities.
6. Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
7. Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools).
8. Is often easily distracted.
9. Often forgetful in daily activities.
B. Six or more of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for at least 6 months to an extent that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:
1. Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
2. Often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is expected.
3. Often runs about or climbs when and where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may feel very restless).
4. Often has trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities quietly.
5. Is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor".
6. Often talks excessively.
[edit] Impulsivity
1. Often blurts out answers before questions have been finished.
2. Often has trouble waiting one's turn.
3. Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or
All of the bolded traits I've highlighted describe me. They described me even better when I was a kid, and you know what, they describe everybody and especially every kid.
The tragedy of the ADD phenomenon is that most parents should be paying attention to their kids, but instead of disciplining their kids and paying attention to their kids, they just put them on these drugs because that's less effort. I've seen it, often, and it makes me sad.
Now sometimes there is that kid who has wonderful parents who still exhibits these problems. I feel so bad for those parents, they try so hard to live with this nightmare, and they get lumped in with the pretenders which makes some people think they're disingenuous. That's probably a legitimate case of some kind of developmental disorder. But those cases are rare next to the bulk of them who would be cured by
this approach.
You want a solution? Don't look at me, look at the medical industry which profits from selling Ritalin and tell them to have some integrity and learn to diagnose things better instead of over medicating the general population for profit. Look at the federal government and wonder why they extend so many protections to students diagnosed with ADD.
