A: Let's begin with the "A." A.D.H.D. is not always a problem with attention . Often, these kids have a selective attention problem. They are able to go into a state of hyperfocus (pay deep attention) to things that interest them; but assign a task that seems trivial or lacks personal relevance (like most homework) and they will often tune out. When recognized and channeled properly, the ability to hyperfocus can work to the child's advantage, both now and later on in life.
Rather than a deficit , what your child is experiencing may simply be the child's individual style of learning. Keep in mind that "learning disability" is a relative term. In some cases, the problem ultimately lies with the school system rather than the child.
A.D.D. is not a disorder in the usual sense. "Disorder" implies illness or pathology. A.D.D. is not a disorder (like a thyroid disorder, for example). It is merely a difference, in the same way as being left-handed is a difference.
A.D.D. NOTE
To parents and professionals: Consider medication in addition to, but not instead of, other treatments, such as behavior and learning strategies.
Stimulants are generally regarded as safe drugs. They were first used for hyperactive children in the 1930s, so they have been in use now for more than sixty years. Yet, like all medication, they are not a problem-free pill. I first began prescribing Ritalin for A.D.D. in 1972. Thirty years and hundreds of prescriptions later, I am impressed by how few undesirable side effects occur. When side effects do occur, they are minor and wear off quickly when the drug is stopped.
It would be great if these medications worked selectively, that is, only on the brain functions concerned with attention or focusing ability (A.D.D.) or the areas that control movement and impulsiveness (A.D.H.D.), but they don't. Ritalin and other stimulants have a wider action in the brain, which is clear from the four side effects that have been identified by placebo-controlled research: decreased appetite, insomnia, headaches, and stomachaches.
Stimulant drugs change the neurochemistry of the brain, but the long-term effects are unknown. When the action of neurotransmitters is artificially stimulated for a long time, might the brain eventually slow down its own production of these chemicals? By giving a child stimulant medication, you are "fooling" the brain into thinking it makes more neurotransmitters than it really does. Might this interfere with the neurological system's ability to regulate itself?
Rarely, stimulant medications can unmask an underlying, severe tic disorder, called Tourette Syndrome. This is not really considered a side effect of the medication, since the disorder is genetic, although brought out by the medication.
Pills tell children that something is wrong with them and they need to take a pill to fix it. Children may feel that they do better because of the pill, not because of themselves. Their success is attributed to the pill rather than to their own efforts.
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