My only solution for stifling the anti-crowd is for an unequivocal test that measures genetic markers in the brain. Until then, people such as Maher will continue to chide the veracity of ADHD.

I had to bring the staff at school a brain map from the Drake Institute to prove she’s got ADD. They were convinced that she was just a slackard because she would leave the back sides of tests blank, and she would neglect to turn in work (often “lost” in her backpack). My daughter has the additional challenge of sporting an IQ somewhere in the 140s, which makes school staff even more skeptical than they are normally with ADD. The 504 plan specifies interventions that the high school teachers are supposed to take. Some read and sign it, and some don’t. A few make an effort, but most don’t. Last week (school started 7/27 here),my daughter’s AP English teacher good-naturedly teased her for “spacing out” in class. When she told him she was ADD, he laughed and said, “Yeah, that’s what they all say.” When she told him about the 504 plan, to his credit, he apologized. This is the second class she has taken with this teacher. He should have known about the 504 plan.

Here’s the point: If children are placed on an intervention plan at school, grades K-12, it is a good idea for parents to follow up with teachers, especially when instructors change at the semester.

Because of my life-long struggle with cognitive difficulties, I know will-power is not enough. My problem is probably related to two head injuries I had at 3 and 5. I alsays knew something was wrong with the way my brain worked; I diagnosed my self when I was talkng a graduate class in teaching the brain injured. (this was subsequently confirmed by neuropscych testing and a functional EEG) I was fortunate to be blessed with very high verbal and higher learning skills. I learned many adaptations using my strengths to accomplish what I couldn’t otherwise.

Julie, I don’t doubt that your child’s problem was due to yeast. My training and experience suggests that a very small number of children’s ADHD originated in yeast problems, poor nutrtion, and some of the other reasons alternative health people state as cause. Having said this, i believe that better nutrition and avoiding sugar, white flour, etc. can lessen the problems caused by ADHD. I have probably spent thousands of dollars on alternative supplements, diets, etc. with no improvement in my cognitive functioning or the automimmune conditions I have. i tried the Yeast treatment and thought it was helping. I began to think that I didn’t have yeast at all, because I didn’t have the “die-off” problem. I finally concluded that the slight improvement I got was because I was not eating sweets or white flour. For whatever reason, these can make me spacy.i think it’s important to recognise that an alternative treatment that helps one may be the result of their specific situation and not the answer for all people with similar situations. I respect you for your ability and the hard work you do that has helped your child; all while doing more than most people do in a given day already. Unfortunately, everyone has their own brain processing, emotional issues, financial issues, etc. that result in their not being able to function at the same high level that you do. The food and the treatment for yeast problems can be very expensive and require a great deal of focus and energy to do. Many of the parents I’ve worked with simply would not be able to pull this off, even if they had become convinced it would work.

I’ve frequently struggled myself to remember that just because I can do something based on my own intelligence, energy, belief system and experi
ence does not mean that everyone can do this particular thing.

My understanding is that the medications work because they have a paradoxical effect on brain based problem. I’m wandering, Dr. Stern, if they could help a child whose problem is based on nutritional issues or emotional problems?

Thanks, Jean

I agree with you Rory, when you have a scheduled, non-stressful enviroment with a good diet, it is alot easier deal with. I knew that having a schedule made my son easier to focus but then I added the easy going enviroment and a better diet in with it and things really started to change. I dont like to medicate unless hes in school or were going out somewhere so that helped out alot. He still bounces off the walls alittle and is kinda loud, but while hes not in school, its nothing medicate over.

Whoops on the spelling mistake!

But really…there are so many dynamic issues and topics at hand with that very well written article. I am just glad you have read it and brought even more discussion to it.

Thank you!

Rory

For one thing instead of using trained psychologists and imaging and EEG studies, institutions are going for 40 minute ‘comprehensive” computer assessments and calling them neuropsychological evaluations…I think these have their place in research studies and as an initial step in referring to appropriate specialists But that is all good diagnosis and treatment go hand in hand!

Amy Price PhD