ADHD DIAGNOSES SOAR 43% IN THE USA IN THE FIRST Decade of the century now 10% have adhd not 5%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to understand why there's such a low incidence in other Western nations like let's say...France.

I think the task of devoted parenting is much more respectable in Europe than here. Therefore they take the responsibility more seriously, not just "winging it" like here. People providing supplemental care are more respected than here.

It's not a "low incidence" in France. They just do not diagnose it. There are probably many people suffering from ADHD in France who are never diagnosed or treated.

You say that based on what? Nothing.

New poster here but a combination of reading these "reports" on no ADHD in France and logic leads to that conclusion easily. More studies that are standardized in methods across countries are needed to say for sure, but good luck making that happen. Researchers can't even seem to standardize methods at single institutions in this country...

Signed, disgruntled biostatistician and parent of ADHD child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And when you are the parent of a child whose life has been completely changed by the better due to psychiatric medication, conspiracy theories about drugs being force-fed to normal children by anxious parents and greedy insurance companies are offensive.

Those greedy insurance companies! Forcing parents of diabetic children into buying insulin. Those greedy insurance companies! Forcing parents of children with cancer to buy chemotherapy!

This. I am so sick of people with neurotypical kids judging the lives of those struggling with something like add or a spectrum disorder.

I have a child who struggles with mental illness, and I completely agree with this poster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to understand why there's such a low incidence in other Western nations like let's say...France.

I think the task of devoted parenting is much more respectable in Europe than here. Therefore they take the responsibility more seriously, not just "winging it" like here. People providing supplemental care are more respected than here.

It's not a "low incidence" in France. They just do not diagnose it. There are probably many people suffering from ADHD in France who are never diagnosed or treated.

You say that based on what? Nothing.

New poster here but a combination of reading these "reports" on no ADHD in France and logic leads to that conclusion easily. More studies that are standardized in methods across countries are needed to say for sure, but good luck making that happen. Researchers can't even seem to standardize methods at single institutions in this country...

Signed, disgruntled biostatistician and parent of ADHD child.

I am the PP and my reading indicates that the criteria for diagnosing ADHD in France is very strict. I didn't say this "based on nothing." I figured if someone wanted to challenge my statement they might do a bit of their own reading rather than assuming I said it "based on nothing."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Interesting how you went from "constellation of personality traits" to "medical struggle." I think it's clear that ADHD meds help some people. But there is also plenty of evidence that they don't help everyone. It's also clear to me that ADHD traits are directly linked to considerable strengths - it's extremely reductive (and insulting) to tag ADHD kids as disabled and lacking "executive function."

ADHD is a delay in the development of executive function. That is what it is. It manifests as a constellation of personality traits but the underlying cause is neurological. And it's true that all ADHD meds don't help all people with ADHD but that is true of most medications and conditions. Would you argue against medication for severe depression because all depression medication doesn't help all people with depression?

It's entirely possible ADHD is over-diagnosed ... probably by teachers and parents who diagnose from a checklist and never get a proper evaluation. But coming here and dismissing the very real and severe life impact of untreated ADHD is offensive at best. There are a lot of people on this board who's families went through real crises because of ADHD or who watched relatives with undiagnosed and untreated ADHD destroy their lives either figuratively or literally.

Where you do you get "plenty of evidence that they don't help everyone?" ... are those the people who don't use the meds?
A lack of executive functioning is one of the major markers of ADHD. It's clear to me that you have not done enough research in this topic, especially if you are that poster who has treated your kid with just your old fashioned parenting. ADHD is considered a disability, and that's why schools have 504s and IEPs to support kids.

A proper evaluation is very valuable in educating yourself on any condition, ADHD or not. A diagnosis isn't the end of the world, it's actually the beginning of you being able to parent your child in the way that their brains can understand. Old fashioned parenting is exactly what it is- old fashioned and does not take into account that each kid is neurologically different.

[Anonymous]

I think even PP who thinks ADHD can be taken care of by old fashioned parenting is grateful I don't allow my teen DS drive a car without his meds. Believe me, I can tell within 15 second of him starting the car whether he's taken his meds or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think even PP who thinks ADHD can be taken care of by old fashioned parenting is grateful I don't allow my teen DS drive a car without his meds. Believe me, I can tell within 15 second of him starting the car whether he's taken his meds or not.

Same. Today my kid's coach commented that he seemed more "distracted" than usual... Which reminded me that he did not take his meds.

[Anonymous]

I have a 9 yr old with ADHD. Diagnosed about 1.5 years ago after neuropsych testing but we'd already been trying many ADHD supports, like timers and planners and to do lists and more. Did not medicate until the beginning of this school year.

Today at a family visit to Santa with his younger siblings, Santa told the kids they were on the good list this year. My son responded that he was really surprised he was on the good list last year because he spent so much time in the principal's office, but that this year he hasn't.

My son, with an IQ north of 150, went from grades of 1.5s, 2s, maybe an occasional 2.5, to grades of 3, 3.5, 4s this year (on a 4 point scale in which 3 is meets expectations and considered the "good" grade; anything beyond that is handed out rarely).

He now has friends. My number is no longer on the principal's speed dial. He now feels like he's no longer out of control or that his "thoughts move so fast I don't have time to analyze them". He is so much more calm. He can listen to our explanations of how to organize and how to plan. He is no longer anxious or depressed or despondent in the way he was for the last two years.

I frankly don't care if certain people "believe" ADHD exists, or if they believe we're falling victim to Big Pharma by making the educated and well thought our decision to medicate our child. I am so grateful for an accurate diagnosis for our kid and that there is medication that helps his whirling brain slow down enough to let him process all that comes at him.

He remains incredibly creative, bright, intuitive, imaginative, and more, but now he can use those qualities in the way he wants. Before medication it's like his brain was using him, but now he is able to use his brain. This weekend he wrote an 8 page single spaced typed story about himself and his friends, and it's better than something most adults could write. I am so proud of him. ADHD is part of who he is but we are not allowing it to define him by denying him the treatment that makes his life so genuinely much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 9 yr old with ADHD. Diagnosed about 1.5 years ago after neuropsych testing but we'd already been trying many ADHD supports, like timers and planners and to do lists and more. Did not medicate until the beginning of this school year.

Today at a family visit to Santa with his younger siblings, Santa told the kids they were on the good list this year. My son responded that he was really surprised he was on the good list last year because he spent so much time in the principal's office, but that this year he hasn't.

My son, with an IQ north of 150, went from grades of 1.5s, 2s, maybe an occasional 2.5, to grades of 3, 3.5, 4s this year (on a 4 point scale in which 3 is meets expectations and considered the "good" grade; anything beyond that is handed out rarely).

He now has friends. My number is no longer on the principal's speed dial. He now feels like he's no longer out of control or that his "thoughts move so fast I don't have time to analyze them". He is so much more calm. He can listen to our explanations of how to organize and how to plan. He is no longer anxious or depressed or despondent in the way he was for the last two years.

I frankly don't care if certain people "believe" ADHD exists, or if they believe we're falling victim to Big Pharma by making the educated and well thought our decision to medicate our child. I am so grateful for an accurate diagnosis for our kid and that there is medication that helps his whirling brain slow down enough to let him process all that comes at him.

He remains incredibly creative, bright, intuitive, imaginative, and more, but now he can use those qualities in the way he wants. Before medication it's like his brain was using him, but now he is able to use his brain. This weekend he wrote an 8 page single spaced typed story about himself and his friends, and it's better than something most adults could write. I am so proud of him. ADHD is part of who he is but we are not allowing it to define him by denying him the treatment that makes his life so genuinely much better.

I'm glad you're son is doing so well. My DS9 struggles with ADHD-- medication is a topic we revisit at the end of each school year. I don't know if you do this, but cognitive behavioral therapy and social/executive functioning skills training have helped a lot. If there comes a day when your son decides not to take meds, this type of therapy can help him through. There is evidence that ADHD persists for most into adulthood by manifesting as executive functioning deficits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Interesting how you went from "constellation of personality traits" to "medical struggle." I think it's clear that ADHD meds help some people. But there is also plenty of evidence that they don't help everyone. It's also clear to me that ADHD traits are directly linked to considerable strengths - it's extremely reductive (and insulting) to tag ADHD kids as disabled and lacking "executive function."

ADHD is a delay in the development of executive function. That is what it is. It manifests as a constellation of personality traits but the underlying cause is neurological. And it's true that all ADHD meds don't help all people with ADHD but that is true of most medications and conditions. Would you argue against medication for severe depression because all depression medication doesn't help all people with depression?

It's entirely possible ADHD is over-diagnosed ... probably by teachers and parents who diagnose from a checklist and never get a proper evaluation. But coming here and dismissing the very real and severe life impact of untreated ADHD is offensive at best. There are a lot of people on this board who's families went through real crises because of ADHD or who watched relatives with undiagnosed and untreated ADHD destroy their lives either figuratively or literally.

Where you do you get "plenty of evidence that they don't help everyone?" ... are those the people who don't use the meds?
A lack of executive functioning is one of the major markers of ADHD. It's clear to me that you have not done enough research in this topic, especially if you are that poster who has treated your kid with just your old fashioned parenting. ADHD is considered a disability, and that's why schools have 504s and IEPs to support kids.

A proper evaluation is very valuable in educating yourself on any condition, ADHD or not. A diagnosis isn't the end of the world, it's actually the beginning of you being able to parent your child in the way that their brains can understand. Old fashioned parenting is exactly what it is- old fashioned and does not take into account that each kid is neurologically different.

Do your research - there are huge questions about whether ADHD meds are effective in the long term and whether the short term gains are worth the side effects. Couple that with the documented tendency to over diagnose, and you have a very strong case for investigating non-drug approaches, and questioning the diagnosis in the first place. None of this is to say that your particular kid does not benefit from meds.

[Anonymous]

My DS8 with Asperger's and ADHD, combined type, has been in social skills classes since prek4 but it wasn't until he started medication for his ADHD at 7 that we saw a HUGE difference in his social skills. The meds help him learn/pay attention to social skills instruction (something he has little interest in) and apply what he has learned with people.

Also, the medication makes him pay attention to other people rather than scatter his attention over things.

I've been taking DS to chess tournaments and holiday parties and now he can become friends with kids he never met before which is pretty amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And when you are the parent of a child whose life has been completely changed by the better due to psychiatric medication, conspiracy theories about drugs being force-fed to normal children by anxious parents and greedy insurance companies are offensive.

Those greedy insurance companies! Forcing parents of diabetic children into buying insulin. Those greedy insurance companies! Forcing parents of children with cancer to buy chemotherapy!

I agree. Enough with the ADHD bashing. I would anything for my child to be normal. Plus the medicine he takes costs me $375.00 a month.

[Anonymous]

We just started a medication trial for my kid with ADHD (newly diagnosed but suspected since a toddler). For him, it's likely the difference between a special needs school and mainstream. He is more present, aware of what he is doing, on topic, and engaged with others. His social skills are benefiting as is his confidence. Side effects are minimal to none. For some, it's a game changer. All the parenting in the world can't change the fact that his brain isn't functioning like others without this condition. He can access all his gifts on a more even playing field with meds.