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Subscribe to RSSResearchers say an increase of 22 percent of ADHD cases since 2003 is due to more awareness and screening.
For more information on ADHD, check out the following resources:
The best overall guide comes from the National Institute of Mental Health:http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/complete-index.shtml
The Mayo Clinic also has a good guide here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adhd/DS00275
The Duke program mentioned in our report: http://www.dukehealth.org/services/attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder/about
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What we really need is for the Legislative body, Congressmen and the House to take some cuts in salaries. They need to have health careand retirement cut the same as as the citizens they gover. They need the same laws by which they pass for citizen they govern. I see no sacrifices being made by them or the president or his czars.
I agree, They cut our medical help but do they realize they are also cutting our children's medical help. They would not last one day in the real world instead of behind the security of their desks and million dollar houses. I have a good job. Making $14 an hour but my bills are still hurting and my children are still on medical help. Due to tax increase and economy still in a slump. Do they not realize that if they took some well needed cuts themselves we could lower the cost of the economy. If that was to happen, our buisnesses would be able to sell more. In turn make more. In order to make more they would have to hire more workers. They hire more workers, which would cut down on unemployment. Creating an economic rise which in turn would give them back their cuts. Possibly even give them a raise or a bonus. And they say they know what is best. HA all they care about is their money and their own lives. Selfish if you ask me!!!!!!!!!!!
What they need to do is stop making everyone be higher than the other, make everything equal. Not make the rich, rich and the poor, poor. Everyone should make equal pay then we all wouldn't have this problem with money cause we would all be equal.
Until you have suffered from Attention Deficit, or watched a child struggle to concentrate, keep your mouths shut. This is very real.
Thank You!
My son has been diagnosed with ADHD, to which we agree after seeing the changes on medicaiton. We have now entered into a diagnosis of "Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD)", is this part of or just a cop-out for those dealing with the difficulties of ADHD?
My son was diagnosed with ADHD inattentive two and half years ago, at the age of 9. He is also twice exceptional: he is intellectually gifted and has a learning "difference." As a clinical social worker, I spent hours pouring over emperical evidence regarding the ADHD diagnosis. Much of it says ADHD is heritable, which was confusing because neither my husband nor I exhibit enough ADHD symptoms for a DSM-IV diagnosis. However, my brother has three sons, two of which have been diagnosed with ADHD. Further investigation with family members has revealed that my father exhibited similar symptoms to those of my son and my oldest nephew. He still struggles with symptoms at the age of 71. We're lucky; the ADHD symptoms in our family are considered "mild" as opposed to severe or even moderate. Once my son was diagnosed, a whole new world opened up for all of us becuase his behavior started making sense. He's in a gifted and talented program at school and is excelling -- all without medication. My husband and I were very leery of stimulant medication so we took alternative routes: no preservatives or dyes in food; behavioral modification both at home and school; cognitive behavioral therapy/coaching by parents; and working memory training. Fortunately for us, we have the resources, both financially and educationally, to offer our child these options. I was concerned that by not medicating him I was doing him a disservice; however, an evaluation by a developmental pediatrician resulted in indicating that, at this point in his life, he doesn't need the stimulant medication to be successful. Nonetheless, his brain interacts differently with various neurotransmitters and it seeks novelty. Recent studies, specifically in The American Journal of Psychiatry (Sept. 2010), are finally looking at the role histamine plays in ADHD, especially with food additives. Too many kids diagnosed with ADHD also exhibit allergic symptoms that cannot be pinned down to a specific allergin. Perhaps the histamines triggered by food additives are exacerbating the symptoms?!
One of the issues with ADHD is weak executive functioning. One of the six types of executive functioning is emotional regulation. ODD is symptomatic of emotional dysregulation, an executive functioning weakness associated with an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex of the brain.
Yes, Oppositional Defiant Disorder exists. My 17 year old son has both ADHD and ODD and it's been a rough ride. I've been a single mom since he was 4. Do lots of reading on the subject, especially on the Duke University site and the other links above (Thank you, Brian Williams & staff.) I wish you the best of luck. You will need your own counselor, too. That's the big thing I think everyone misses. Parents of ADHD kids need to take care of themselves, too.
I suggest that you contact American Mensa. A common complaint among that group is that their gifted children are diagnosed as ADHD and attempts are made to drug them. If this is the case, it would also explain another story on tonight's show. That is, the percentage of gifted math students is declining in America. Well, have you ever taken a test while under the influence?
I suggest that you contact American Mensa. A common complaint among that group is that their gifted children are diagnosed as ADHD and attempts are made to drug them. If this is the case, it would also explain another story on tonight's show. That is, the percentage of gifted math students is declining in America. Well, have you ever taken a test while under the influence?
Diagnosed ADHD teens get up to 50% more time on the SAT and ACT exams
How many of these children actually have undiagnosed Lyme disease and/or other tick-borne diseases whose symptoms mimic ADHD?
When will the connection between artificial food additives (colors and flavors, certain preservatives) and ADHD be recognized? The knowledge has been around for over 30 years, with great results in those who eliminate the additives, and yet the schools are still serving colored, flavored strawberry milk, pre-packaged breakfast foods with dyes, etc. Valid studies have shown this connection, but food and drug companies have successfully fought it. England is aware, and doing something about it. Why not USA??
At age 24, my sons' ADD symptoms are worse than ever. Doctors told him he had to take stimulants in order to function, but they only made things worse, and after 2 years of struggling, he is going to stop taking them. People should be aware that many kids do not outgrow ADD, and continue to have symptoms that significantly affect their adult lives. It is a disability that deserves more research in order to provide people with the help they need.
Have you tried a gluten-free diet? I know it sounds trite, but it has done amazing things in our household.
I have a 12 year old son, that was misdiagnosed with ADHD. From a very early age, he exhibited extremely high energy levels. After allowing doctor's to "help" my son, as they put it, and try several different mood altering drugs on him. I said enough is enough, but not before he started having serious ticks "tourettes" from the last medication...The medical profession still insisted that they could help! I went on line to check out the 3 drugs that they were trying to give him, at the same time, to find out that 2 of them weren't suppose to be taken with the other. It caused irreversable damage, and death! When I told one of the therapists what I had found out. She told me that the doctor was aware of that??? I left the building, and started seeking alternative measures to treat my 6 year old.
I took him to a doctor of homeopathy. She started him on a regimine of homeopathic medicines. Within one week, his ticks had almost completely subsided. He could finally go to sleep without staying up half the night. That was a side affect from the drugs the doctors had given him. He still had alot of anxiety, and a new naturopathic doctor had a blood test done on him. The test was sent to California. When she got the results back, she was not at all surprised about what she saw. My son was so allergic to different dairy products, that the results went off the chart with several different dairy products. He was taken off of dairy, and only took a few homeopathic medicines, and everyone thought we had finally found a drug that agree'd with him. When they found out that his hyperactivity was due to an allergy, they were shocked to know he wasn't on anything for ADHD!
He has completely calmed down. When I think about all of the children that are being drugged, and probably have nothing more than a food allergy, it makes me sick! Parents need to know that there are alternatives to psycotrophic drugs, and they need to get their children tested for allergies. I am so thankful that I didn't stop looking for an answer. If you want to know more about food allergies, google, Bruce Semon MD., PH.D., Medical Practice. This man was a God send to me! I never had the candida cleanse done on my son, but he was on probiotics, which helped. All I know is that I have a very special young man, that still has a tick flare up every now and then. It's a reminder to me of how dangerous the "approved" drugs really are! If you could have seen his before the proper diagnosis, and after...It would blow you away. He is fortunate, that didn't have to be zombiefied!
My son, who is now 13 started showing signs of ADD at a young age. Once he started school, the system hounded me to put him on medication. I had friends who tipped me off to checking him for food allergies. This was in fact his problem. We continue to take him to a Naturapath. The problem with this is that their behavior does not always return to "normal" on the allergy diet. The school makes it very hard to stay on the diet. Treats, snacks, party foods. You almost have to homeschool to do this in a fair way. Schools do not recognize how hard families work to keep their children off of unnecessary medication. They just want the child to sit still and behave!
The incidence of ADHD has grown with the use of artificial colors and flavors in our foods. We've had wonderful success on the Feingold diet (named after the late Dr. Benjamin Feingold, a pediatric allergist), free of these and other additives and, for some people, salicylates. Check out their web site at ADHDdiet.com.
Great Brtian is banning some of the worst additives. When will the FDA do that here?
Thank you for this piece - I wish the entire piece had aired on the nightly show.
I have an eleven-year-old daughter with ADHD - inattentive. She was diagnosed in second grade, we were noticing an inability to pay attention for long periods of time and were concerned. Her school simply said she was “on target” and had very little concern, however we wanted to be sure. We had her tested and in fact she has ADHD, medication was suggested. My nephew also has ADHD and my younger brother had it as well, they both were on medication for several years and did not do well. My brother was a vibrant, happy energetic child before and became very sullen and quiet. My nephew did not feel well on the medication and lost weight.
We decided to come up with another plan. She has a tutor (once a week) and we decided to switch her to a private catholic school, we felt she needed a structured environment to keep her on track. We work closely with the school and individually with her to make sure she is connecting. Perhaps one of the biggest issues for this learning difference is the lack of understanding of what in fact these children face and a huge lack of research regarding ADHD.
Thank you for your piece, we need more.
Sincerely,
Brenda McGee