ADHD, Is it or isn't it!

    
     I just finished reading the book No More ADHD by Dr. Mary Ann Block.  It is written by a mother who decided to go to med school to become a doctor herself after her daughter became seriously ill from a wrong diagnosis and inappropriate drugs prescribed by doctors.  What we won't do for our kids, right?! In this book, she questions the very existence of the ADHD diagnosis and gives a behind the scenes look into the medical profession explaining how ADHD can be the result of health and learning problems and how it can be treated without drugs.
     As a teacher myself, I was interested in learning more about this topic.  This disorder often gives teachers a bad name because so much of it can be traced back to some teacher telling some parent his/her child might need medication to solve unfortunate classroom behaviors.  However, I am proud to say I have never encountered such an incident in my schools.  And if you are a parent, don't let any teacher tell you your kid needs drugs-that's completely ridiculous not to mention unlawful.
     The beginning of the book unveils how much the pharmaceutical industry plays a role in medicine.  The pharmaceutical industry is a top contributor for underwriting studies and providing funds to medical students and their research.  If you think a finding is unbiased, all it takes is a look to see where the money is coming from.

    
     One of the problems with ADHD is that the diagnosis is not consistent from one person to another and it seems to be pretty subjective.  There is no one formal test for diagnosis, but more than enough people willing to diagnose (doctors, psychiatrists, teachers, etc).  Yet, the CDC estimates that 1 in every 13 children have ADHD.  Sadly, the same kid can be seen as a kid acting like a kid to one person, but to another that kid must have ADHD because he is hyper and can't focus.  Personally, I think there is a little too much focus on trying to make kids into programmable agreeable robots.
     The book does its fair share of slamming teachers for the epidemic.  Here's my stance on that.  I have never seen a teacher in my schools convince a parent the kid needs drugs.  Yet, I read all these stories of just that going on and I don't deny those stories.  It must be happening and as a teacher, I apologize.  Parents: it is against the law and you have every right to take action.  There are good teachers and bad teachers.  A good teacher knows that each child is different and thus learns in a different way.  Some need to see, some touch, some fidget, doodle, and some just plain need a break every now and then.  Some kids need to be taught how to learn.   Maybe the inattentiveness and hyperactivity isn't because the child has a disorder, but because the teacher isn't challenging that child's mind enough!  Just saying.

     Here's the scary thing, more than 1 in 30 students have a prescription for an ADHD drug such as Ritalin even though studies do not show improvement in academic achievement.  The US consumes 90% it.  Ritalin and others are comparable to opium, cocaine, and heroin and can lead to the same side effects such as paranoia and psychosis.  Two shocking statistics she gives: the FDA reports that less than 1% of doctors read the labels and know the side-effects of the drugs they're prescribing.  And, from 1992-1996, Ritalin use tripled AND overall drug use among teens rose 105% with cocaine use up 166%.  The drugs used to treat ADHD became addictive, easy to obtain and sell on the streets. They were never meant to be taken over long-term and the long-term effects are unknown.   In her book, she reveals that many of the school violence incidents such as Columbine were done by a teen who had a prescription for one of the ADHD drugs.  Coincidence or not?  As a teacher, I think I would much rather deal with an inattentive student than a drugged one.
     Dr. Block devotes much of her book to alternative solutions for ADHD symptoms.  Personally, I believe there is a time and place for medicine, but I also see her point and agree that less invasive solutions should be explored first.  Consider this.  Many of the symptoms of ADHD are also the same symptoms found in issues with diet, allergies, and environmental factors.  Iron deficiency, magnesium deficiency, low blood sugar, thyroid, pesticides, heavy metals, food allergies, smoking, pollutants, fragrances, and nutritional deficiencies are just some of the factors that can be misdiagnosed as ADHD.  Common foods known to hinder concentration include hydrogenated oils, artificial colors/flavors, MSG, preservatives and refined flours and sugars.  A good supplement for increasing concentration is fish oil, worth looking into at least.  Nonetheless, it's a lot more involved and it's important to find a doctor who is willing to explore, test, and research all possibilities.  If you're in and out within 5 minutes toting a piece of paper with chicken scratch on it, you know you haven't found one yet.
   Well, I have written enough and I need to pick up my kids from a heavenly thing called preschool.  What can I say, it gives me a break.  This whole subject of ADHD is challenging and largely misunderstood.  I sympathize with the kids who carry this label because many, but not all don't deserve the tag.  It has challenged me as a teacher to become more aware of how I teach each student. I recommend this book in your search for understanding especially if you're interested in the subject; it's short and informative and will give you something to think about.  It's also got a handy little diagram on how to deal with chronic ear infections, but that's a whole other not so unrelated issue for another day.