to think that ADHD/ADD is a load of nonsense?

[Breton1900]

Are we really producing ever more kids with these conditions or do parents simply need to take back control and realise that, at times, all kids can be obnoxious, loud, defiant, restless and fidgety and that strictly enforced rules for behaviour, lots of TLC, and the occasional smack on the bum may be the way forward?

TheJollyPirate - I think you're maybe mistaking me for someone, or not recognising me.

My DD1 sleeps with a weighted blanket, I made it. My DD1 does have (undiagnosed but nevertheless very present) ADHD.

My DD1 also has a brain malformation, and will be going to special school.

I have contributed substantially on this thread, and my previous posts make it clear that I am a parent of a child with SN.

I will assume that you misread the tone and intention of my post

So you don't want to say.

Breton, are you suggesting that ADHD does not exist or that it can misdiagnosed?

Of my five children I have two mathematically gifted, one at Cambridge the other expected to go next year.
I have two with ASD,the one with ADHD is also mathematically able. He isn't badly behaved and he isn't medicated.
In fact he has earned prizes in school for his behaviour and effort, he has exemplary manners but he does manage on ten hours sleep a week.
I have met teachers with similar attitudes to yours and tend to think that it highlights an inability to adapt and differentiate to meet all your pupils needs rather than it saying anything about the pupils themselves tbh.
Maybe if you had met ds you would judge me as a parent but to be honest your opinion and the opinions of others like you don't matter to me. But tell me how do you explain if my parenting had been so poor how I managed to parent two gifted high flyers, one of whom is only 21 months older than ds?

Breton you aren't big or clever even your big words don't help. Personally I don't believe you are a teacher or have any interest in any field other than winding people up.

Now where was I with my frog story....ah yes he'd just been on x factor.....

Riven wrote "I'm wondering why you stand against the majority of neuroscientists and paediatricians. Do you think its somemassive conspiracy?"

No I don't. However, I just wonder if other underlying causes may be responsible.

I'm not discussing physical disabilities or conditions that have a proven biological and/or genetic basis I am offering an opinion on this phenomenon of ADHD.

Whilst I am a rationalist and hold firmly to the scientific approach I am not convinced that there is sound scientifically demonstrable evidence for ADHD.

Nor is it always wise to assume the experts necessarily know what is best. Remember the 1950s and 1960s and the assurances that thalidomide was safe for pregnant women?

The history of science is also littered with examples of the prevailing establishment dismissing theories or evidence, later proven to be correct, from those perceived to be "out of their depth" or simply wrong. Think of Semmelweiss, Pasteur, or Chandrasekhar. All had their theories initially rejected or belittled by elements of the prevailing medical/scientific community.

Right just read the thread and it appears you of the 'does not exist' school of thought.

and your arguement seems to be if it existed "it would have been around for generations" it has been around for generations.

"We dont have hundreds of thousands of pensioners walking around suffering with ADHD". I suspect we do, many undiagnosed dulling the symptoms with alcohol or drugs for example.

"biochemical imbalances" yes it would vary from person to person, but doesnt become a problem until it affects the person on a daily basis and affects their ability to function 'normally'.

"children having their own TV, computer games etc" ADHD affects ALL cultures, many without TV's or games.

"Last 30 years parenting techniques have changed" ADHD has been around for longer than 30 years.

Breton if you look online you will see the first case of adhd is believed to have been diagnosed in 1902.

TheLadyEvenstar Mon 23-Aug-10 15:56:52
ADHD has evolved, both in name and classification, since doctor's first started to notice patients with attention related symptoms. It is believed that a British doctor, Dr. George Still, was the first person to recognize and diagnose the condition in 1902. However, he did not call it ADHD, but rather a "Defect of Moral Control" disorder. To the best of my knowledge, the names of the children he described in his papers were not released.

The use of stimulants to treat ADHD was first described in 1937

Breton Can you explain how my ds can have ASD and ADHD when he has been raised in a family that produces gifted students?
Incidentally the paed who was one of the team that gave dx to ds and dd believes that the genes responsible for ADHD, ASD etc are also responsible for giftedness (chromosome 15) and in future that theory will be proven.

asdx wrote "Incidentally the paed who was one of the team that gave dx to ds and dd believes that the genes responsible for ADHD, ASD etc are also responsible for giftedness (chromosome 15) and in future that theory will be proven."

The paediatrician may believe anything s/he wishes but that is not science!

Claw3 wrote: "It has been around for generations?

Evidence?

Re lack of evidence for ADHD pensioners.
Claw3 wrote: "I suspect we do, many undiagnosed dulling the symptoms with alcohol or drugs for example."

Evidence?

Claw 3 wrote: "biochemical imbalances" yes it would vary from person to person, but doesnt become a problem until it affects the person on a daily basis and affects their ability to function 'normally'."

Define "normally"?

As I understand it, the brain is constantly active even while we are sleeping. Thus brain chemistry is equally active. Brain imaging techniques can measure electrical activity, blood flow to various parts of the brain and brain anatomy but as yet there is no known way of measuring brain chemistry.

Claw3 wrote: "ADHD has been around for longer than 30 years."

Evidence?

No not proven yet but when put as a theory for my particular family it is a theory that has far more credence than yours

I have just spent three minutes looking at the Science Direct bibliography. My intention was to send you some peer reviewed articles about ADHD. But, do you know what I just can't be bothered. I suspect that your ignorance would make it hard for you to follow them anyway.

Suffice to say you are stunningly insensitive as well as ignorant. Please take your arguments and opinions elsewhere; they are really not wanted here. A shame because the medicalisation of many life experiences at the outer boundaries of 'normal' would be a very interesting discussion.

Oh jeez is he/she still going on.

i havent seen an answer as to what your qualifications are for.

evidence?

Breton1900, do you accept that ADHD was what was diagnosed during the encephalitis diagnosis or was that something different? I wasn't aware of the link to this epidemic and find that very interesting, if it is a sinilar thing.

encephalitis epidemic

Answer me Breton how can poor parenting be the cause when many families including my own have children with no difficulties besides?
How can I produce Oxbridge candidates as well as a child with ADHD?
We as a family don't fit any of your supposed causes but we have a child with ADHD and four without.

Breton,

Lack of evidence for ADHD pensioners. You would have to follow a group of pensioners from early childhood, when diagnosed with ADHD to see if they still displayed the symptoms as adults. I have already supplied the history to ADHD, which would suggest that it has been around for years. What are you basing it hasnt been around for generations on?

Define 'normally' i already did, when you cannot function on a daily basis.

This might be of interest to you.

"The study examined more than 600,000 genetic markers in over 900 families from the largest genetic study of ADHD, the International ADHD Multicenter Genetics (IMAGE) project led by Stephen V. Faraone of SUNY Upstate Medical Center. The authors have made these data publicly available to researchers who are interested in pursuing further studies.

The studies found that one genetic marker may be associated with ADHD symptoms. The studies, suggests that many genes are involved in ADHD and that each of these have small effects. Thus, larger studies are needed to fully understand the genetic mechanisms underlying ADHD and whether these initial findings can be confirmed"

PLEASE STOP FEEDING THE TROLL.....MOVE AWAY FROM THE THREAD AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIVES (obviously posting on MN constitutes "a life".

PLEASE STOP FEEDING THE TROLL

PLEASE STOP FEEDING THE TROLL

Bad parenting is one of the first things professionals rule out, before giving a diagnosis.

There were ADHD children 60 years+ ago.
They were the ones being the class clowns or getting shouted at, beaten with rulers, slippers and the cane, bunking off or stuck in the ESN corner. The ones who failed in formal education with it all being their fault, because of their parenting, economic circumstances and social class.
Congratulations OP, welcome to the 20th century.

People used to say that ME sufferers and chronic fatigue disease sufferers were making it all up. Even doctors told patients that there was nothing wrong with them. Hopefully, that has all now changed. ME seems to be a form of encephalitis, as far as I can tell. It seems that people have trouble believing in some of these neurological diseases.