There's a lot more to the whole argument than that. What's evident is there is a lot that needs to be learned about the labels ADD and ADHD.
My own personal observations of family members, friends and acquaintances is that it's something that is diagnosed too readily without any real study. ADD and ADHD do exist, but not completely as we perceive it. Brain mapping is a newer technology that is taking big leaps to pursue that lack of knowledge. One of the early findings with this technology proves the perception I have...that it's diagnosed wrongly much of the time. The bad part about that is the treatments for ADD/ADHD can be detrimental to a person who has a different condition. From what they've found recently there are four different conditions that are often diagnosed as ADD/ADHD. One of those conditions is made much much worse by the current medications offered for this diagnosis. The behavior of children diagnosed with these conditions runs all over the place from total lack of attention for a certain time span or complete hyperattention and a lack of ability to transition from one thing to another.
The problem I've often seen is doctors too readily will prescribe and addict a child to very dangerous pharmaceuticals that in some cases increase the depression associated with the diagnosis and lead to worse problems...drug addiction, crime..etc etc. I find fault in doctors who would not consider the extreme effects of medications that affect your brain chemistry and too often hand them out like candy...not just for children, but antidepressants for adults and some pain meds fall under that description.
Don't get me wrong...there are clear cases where these meds can and do help, but those successes often involve therapies that address behavior and inevitably wish to teach a method of dealing with these conditions without medication. I happen to believe that a majority of the time that amount of work seems too daunting and the pills are an easy fix. I've known people who've gone to credible doctors in their field with the intent of being put on an antidepressant and after a 10 minute interview with this credible doctor....get what they want. Yet the problems that arise from their condition haven't disappeared...in some cases they are worse.
As for Winston's perception...I have the same belief. The self-diagnosis of being and "indigo child" as an explanation for behaviors often associated with ADD/ADHD happens far too often and usually without a complete objective study of it. But for some people it does work and in a therapeutic sense...I wouldn't deny someone that perception if it allows them lasting happiness. I would compare it to the theory of "intelligent design" which tries to fill in the holes of history and science with creationism from the Christian bible. In other words...when something comes up that can't be explained by science or religion...intelligent design theorists will fill that whole somehow with the Bible and disregard all else...no matter what new knowledge is gained. However, people strong in their faith tend to live longer and happier lives...who am I to force them away from that.
The truth is yet to be found, but it is definitely between the two extremes.
Superdog
