Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Plain Dealer Reporter
Diana Keough

Children with untreated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have a poorer quality of life than healthy children or children with asthma, a study in the September issue of Pediatrics reports.

The study found children with ADHD had worse family relationships, lower self-esteem and more feelings of anxiety or depression than did asthmatic or healthy children.

"If left untreated, kids with ADHD lose confidence in their own abilities because they're not experiencing a lot of success," said Dr. John Duby, director of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Akron Children's Hospital.

Parents of asthmatic children tend to seek help earlier than parents of children displaying ADHD symptoms. By the time treatment is sought, kids with ADHD are struggling with secondary behavior issues, like depression and anxiety. ADHD treatment typically includes medication and behavior modification.

Duby recommends parents be on the lookout for the following: difficulty sitting still; inability to stick with one activity; trouble following simple commands; playing more aggressively than other children; talking con stantly and interrupting.

An older child (6 to 12 years old) puts himself at risk without thought of danger; talks inappropriately, blurts out responses without waiting to be called on; is forgetful; is described by teachers as a behavior problem.

"ADHD should be considered a signifi cant, chronic health condition that left untreated can have sig nificant long-term effects on children's social, emotional, ac ademic and family function ing," Duby said.

Taking aim at lawyers

Sick ofLawsuits.org launched a na tional TV advertising campaign last week that depicts a personal injury lawyer as a game show host. In the ad, the lawyer spins a wheel to win prize options, including "File junk lawsuits," "Run ads that scare patients," "Make costs go up," "Rake in millions," and "Force medicines off the market."

"We're trying to bring awareness to people that meritless lawsuits and outrageous jury awards are a real problem," said Jeff Longstreth, executive director of Ohio Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, which is behind the ads.

The group claims to have 6,500 members in Ohio, made up of doctors, health-care professionals and small business owners.

Jack Landskroner, board member of Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, hasn't seen the ads but said the group has been on the attack against lawyers for over two years.

"While our clients lose limbs and can't earn a living because of their injuries, what [this organization] has put forth has limited people's ability to have their day in court," he said.

http://www.cleveland.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news/1129109697121200.xml&coll=2

[QUOTE=Andrew]Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Children with untreated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have a poorer quality of life than healthy children or children with asthma, a study in the September issue of Pediatrics reports.

The study found children with ADHD had worse family relationships, lower self-esteem and more feelings of anxiety or depression than did asthmatic or healthy children.

"If left untreated, kids with ADHD lose confidence in their own abilities because they're not experiencing a lot of success," said Dr. John Duby, director of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Akron Children's Hospital.

Parents of asthmatic children tend to seek help earlier than parents of children displaying ADHD symptoms. By the time treatment is sought, kids with ADHD are struggling with secondary behavior issues, like depression and anxiety. ADHD treatment typically includes medication and behavior modification.

Duby recommends parents be on the lookout for the following: difficulty sitting still; inability to stick with one activity; trouble following simple commands; playing more aggressively than other children; talking con stantly and interrupting.

An older child (6 to 12 years old) puts himself at risk without thought of danger; talks inappropriately, blurts out responses without waiting to be called on; is forgetful; is described by teachers as a behavior problem.

"ADHD should be considered a signifi cant, chronic health condition that left untreated can have sig nificant long-term effects on children's social, emotional, ac ademic and family function ing," Duby said.



Yep, that is me,
Since I was "so bright" it didn't even dawn on my teachers and parents that it was not a question of "she won't...but "she can't"
By 4th grade I had a nun who loathed me, and was not afraid to show it. She said because of my behavior I was no longer allowed to “flex up” into the next grade for reading and math as I had always done. It escalated to an all out war; I got the rebellious label and spent the rest of my teen years earning it. (I eventually got kicked out of that school) I started skipping school, and doing drugs in 5th grade, barely graduated high school, and was on my own at 17.
What a waste! In their defense, my parents were young, they had their own problems, (my brother had ADD for goodness sake!) I was the “smart” one with the huge IQ and I always seemed to land on my feet…

What really makes me sad is the little boy in my son’s class, classic case of an undiagnosed child. All the kids sit with their desks in groups or 4-6, and there is my poor Zach his desk is all alone and he faces the wall…. He is so smart and funny he tries so hard to be good but gosh darn it:
WHY CAN”T EVERYBODY SEE THAT NOW MATTER HOW MUCH HE WANTS TO HE CAN”T!!!
Oh I just get all weepy even writing it. I can see a child’s spirit being broken from a mike away.
My son is medicated, I am totally involved with the school and he gets incredible amounts of attention, I could ask for nothing more of his teacher or the school.
And there is Zach, same teacher, same school….

My son is medicated, I am totally involved with the school and he gets incredible amounts of attention, I could ask for nothing more of his teacher or the school.
And there is Zach, same teacher, same school…. Vicki, your son is lucky to have you for a mom. It's difficult to stand by and watch and know things could be better for the little Zachs of the world. I'm sure he knows you "get" him and he won't forget that. I wasn't diagnosed as a child, but I can remember the people who "got" me and it made a difference in my life.

Seconding what Imnapl said, Vicki! Your son is lucky. I hate kids being punished for simply being themselves. A few of us make it anyway because somewhere along the line someone believes in us, but many others give up and go on to earn the label they were already given -- my husband was one of those with both dyslexia and ADHD going untreated, and teachers who shamed him in front of the class until he wet himself. He eventually managed to pull his life back together but it wasn't any thanks to the school system -- his father finally figured out when my husband was in 8th grade that he was dyslexic when he saw him write an algebra problem upside down and backwards without even realizing it. His parents got him specialized help at a private center and he learned to read. They also measured his IQ -- this kid the teachers said was mentally retarded had an IQ of 165!:mad:

Scattered

I really have a hard time coming to terms with the fact that adults do not realize the cruelty (not to mention being poor role models) they are displaying to the children of others and how much of a hand they have in the shaping of these young minds.

I see it with teachers, coaches, and parents trying to make sure their kids playmates are as perfect as their own children, (yes, that last statement is dripping with sarcasm)
With or without ADD most kids will act out if they know they are not liked. It is so simple, you reach out to these kids and you can really make a difference.

It is a horrible cycle because the kid’s bad behavior proves the “label maker” correct in their opinion

I didn't want my post to be a ranting festival, but I can't help it.

We learn to say things to the children such as

"That behavior is not acceptable".

When is someone going to say that to the teachers? It's their profession for goodness sake. Don't they read? How is it possible that someone can teach for 5, 10, 15 years and not be able to at least explore the possibility that it may NOT be a simple case of willful disobedience?

And again, HOW can they go so long in their "profession" (that too is dripping with sarcasm), and not understand what it is to break a child's spirit????

Some teachers display that behavior out of callousness, frustration and failure at truly trying to help. Some take great pleasure in it. Through clenched teeth, as if in a sadistic trans, they suck the very life from the young souls with belittlement. Punishments from cold, calculated, premeditated...
UN-educated!...

I have a parent/teacher conference tomorrow. I told her we would need more than the standard 15 minutes. Before I leave, she will have a pristine understanding-
That behavior is NOT acceptable.

You go hellno!!! I for one, am all fired up for you! Let us know how it all comes out.

its not all teachers (i'm going to be a teacher). its just people in general. its just that kids spend a lot of time with teachers.

i'm not saying that there arent a lot of teachers who dont understand this, because i had a lot of them so i know.... but its a "society" thing, not a "teacher" thing.

and please dont drip my profession with sarcasm... just the individuals.


i DO agree though that a lot of people and teachers and PARENTS (even my own family) cant see that its not just a wilful display of disobedience. and i do agree with your final comment "that behaviour is not acceptable" (as long as you dont say it like the supernanny.... 'asseptable')

but there's another side to this 'exploring the possibility' thing - the first is that its often hard to tell the difference, especially since a lot of people (including teachers, doctors, parents...) dont understand ad(h)d (i have even heard a fellow student-teacher try to tell ME that 'adhd kids are just trying to be annoying to annoy the teacher' - at which i wanted to jump on and rip her to shreads, but i just spoke calmly but bluntly about it...).... and the second thing is, how can you just decide "ok THIS child has adhd, but this other one is just a little brat with parents who spoil her" and how do you treat them differently if you dont have real proof? and why should the one with parents who spoil her who DOESNT have adhd be punished MORE at school when its not his/her fault that he/she is like that anyway - its actually the parents (dont try to tell me that 'im saying its your fault about your child having ad/hd.....) and the THIRD thing is, teachers cant just go around 'diagnosing' adhd.

a lot of the time it is adhd, but then again.... a lot of the time its just a simple case of willful disobedience. kids are like that.






I didn't want my post to be a ranting festival, but I can't help it.







We learn to say things to the children such as

"That behavior is not acceptable".

When is someone going to say that to the teachers? It's their profession for goodness sake. Don't they read? How is it possible that someone can teach for 5, 10, 15 years and not be able to at least explore the possibility that it may NOT be a simple case of willful disobedience?

And again, HOW can they go so long in their "profession" (that too is dripping with sarcasm), and not understand what it is to break a child's spirit????

Some teachers display that behavior out of callousness, frustration and failure at truly trying to help. Some take great pleasure in it. Through clenched teeth, as if in a sadistic trans, they suck the very life from the young souls with belittlement. Punishments from cold, calculated, premeditated...
UN-educated!...

I have a parent/teacher conference tomorrow. I told her we would need more than the standard 15 minutes. Before I leave, she will have a pristine understanding-


That behavior is NOT acceptable.

To me, this article only serves to underscore the myriad of risk factors associated with untreated ADHD.

Thanks for posting it.

I second that it's not just teachers. How many parents get the run-down from teachers only to ignore it and say "not my kid"!

My own sister-in-law refused to believe the school psychologist who suggested her son might be ADHD in grade school and he's a struggling teen now. She still says, "He's just lazy. He can do it if he WANTS to. I've seen it!" She made no attempt to research the disorder.

I've talked to 2 mothers at my kids' school about how they want desperately just to have their kids evaluated because of what teachers have noticed, but the fathers refuse.

It's insane.

I admit, I have a special empathy for teachers....my mother was a first grade teacher in a public school in SC in the 60's and 70's, and I watched her work late every night.

I want to know this: how is a teacher, with 25-30 children in her class from different backgrounds and at different levels of maturity, supposed to determine which children are lazy, which have ADD, which have other learning disabilities, which are gifted, which really aren't so bright, and which have problems at home which affect their performance in school? And, oh yeah, on top of this, the teacher's supposed to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic to all of the students...we can't forget that!

My point is that I think parents have to get involved; most teachers simply can't do it all, and I think parents are naive to think they can.