04/09/98

Reader Opinions About ADD-ADHD (Part 2)

Readers continue to wrestle with the issues surrounding intervention for children with ADD-ADHD. In addition to the ideas offered below, there is a useful book out called "Fifty Ways to Treat ADHD Without the Use of Drugs" by Thomas Armstrong. Again, these are only ideas for consideration in the context of the needs of each child. Judicious use of medication, under the advice and supervision of a physician, is another of the potentially helpful interventions for some children with ADD or ADHD.

• I recently had Lyme disease and was struck with profound problems with concentration. Teachers, parents, and doctors need to learn about Lyme disease before they diagnose ADD. Lyme is a complex disease, which can have neuropsychological implications. I never even had an ache or pain from it, but I sure couldn't concentrate! -- It Might Not Be ADD-ADHD

• My daughter was retained in grade two. Although she appears smart, achievement testing showed little progress over the past two years, despite special education services in reading and language arts. I finally demanded a neurological evaluation, which resulted in a diagnosis of ADHD. The neurologist prescribed Ritalin. Within a week, her teacher, school psychologist, and specialists reported that they had never seen such a change in any child. My daughter is shining in the classroom actively engaged in writing, math and all subjects, excelling and loving it. Your article should have included results like I have seen with my child. -- Excellent Results with Ritalin

• I am the parent of two ADD children, one of whom thrived on Ritalin and one who did not (because of side effects). The one who responded positively decided, on his own, to quit taking it because of the stigma attached to being a "drug user." My daughter fared so poorly in the public school, that we got an educational lawyer and forced the school system to provide an alternative education, i.e. private school. In this environment she is thriving without medication. She is getting the one-to-one instruction she requires, at times, and is away from the disruptions and ridicule of her peers. -- Smaller Instruction Groups Help

• My doctor was gung-ho to get my second grader on Ritalin. Feeling desperate, I agreed. The school system was prepared to do more for him. Realizing he was a bright boy, they taught him coping mechanisms and tricks to help him when conventional methods failed. He internalized these techniques. By fifth grade I had never increased his dosage and he was doing so well, he was in the gifted program. Then we moved to a nearby town where the teachers were not told about his label. They had no idea he was an ADHD kid. I took him off the Ritalin at mid-year and he didn't miss it. He's now in seventh grade and doing well. He still has his bag of "tricks" and uses them well. -- Teaching Coping Strategies

• Your bandwagon perception about overuse of drugs needs to be cautioned. Unfortunately you may be adding fuel to the parents' fire who are not willing to have their children take certain medications when it is clearly indicated. You must realize the real terror that children go through when they are not able to control themselves or are not able to concentrate when the teacher calls on them.

  I am an adult who suffers from ADD. I found it out after I finished graduate school. Had I had medications while I was in college, my life would have been easier and I would not have been in so much personal turmoil.

  My stepson had ADD. When he was eleven his stepfather took him off of the drugs. As a result he never could get control of himself, did poorly in school, had a terrible sense of self-esteem and ended up dead at 24 from a drug overdose.

  It is true what you write, but people can use it (interpret it) in the wrong way. -- Don't Withhold Necessary Medications

• My daughter was diagnosed with ADD, without hyperactivity. My wife and I decided not to put her on medication. We tried a natural, over-the-counter remedy called Ginkgo Bilboa. It takes a few weeks to help, but it works. -- Try Ginkgo Bilboa

• Instead of medication for kids, why not try art and music every day? This would encourage "hyper" kids to use their energy in a positive, productive manner. It would also give them something to look forward to instead of controlled, regimented sports. Tai Chi is also a healing practice and could be offered free by the Parks and Recreation Department. -- Channel the Energy Positively

• Is it really healthy for youngsters to spend six-plus hours per day sitting down indoors? Common sense says that long, indoor, over-scheduled schooldays are not the best recipe for restive boys and girls! Administrators and teachers should put more physical activity into the school day. Consider intramural sports during the school day. Assign chores to the students. There's no reason why kids can't plant community gardens, rake leaves, pick-up trash in the playground, or sweep and mop the cafeteria floor. In Aristotle's school model, students and teachers walked around while discussing physics, biology, ethics and logic. We adults may have chosen to live life behind a desk, but we shouldn't expect children to learn everything that way. --- Increase Action Learning

• As a Licensed Massage Therapist, I have worked with several children with ADD. I encourage parents to slow the child down early in the evening and stick to a routine that includes 20 minutes of quiet massage before bedtime each night. The results have been remarkable. The children are asleep faster and have a longer and more restful night of sleep.

  The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami's School of Medicine has done ground-breaking research in this area. Tiffany Field, Ph.D, director of the Institute says "When these children were massaged, stereotypical and off-task behaviors in the classroom abated while social behaviors grew better." She also studied a combination of massage and Tai Chi to increase the attention span and focus, while lowering anxiety. The Touch Research Institute has also recently published studies showing massage provides better pulmonary function for asthmatic children and improved glucose level control for diabetic children.

  A subscription to Touchpoints (quarterly research journal from the Touch Research Institute) costs only $10 and is available by writing to Touchpoints, c/o The University of Miami School of Medicine, PO Box 016820, Miami, FL 33101. -- Massage for ADD-ADHD

• Parents Against Ritalin (PAR) is a national organization committed to educating the public about the natural alternatives available to manage ADD and ADHD. I'm a member of PAR and would like to determine if there is enough interest throughout Connecticut to form local chapters. PAR provides its members with information about Ritalin and its potential side-effects, a list of well established companies providing natural alternatives and a Physician Referral Service listing physicians who will work cooperatively with parents who want to utilize a natural approach. Parents, educators and others who are interested in learning more about PAR may e-mail me at jan.luzi@snet.net for more information. -- Parents Against Ritalin

Author's Note: Thanks again to the many readers who wrote to me about this complex subject.

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.