I was browsing ESPN today, and came across this video:
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?categoryId=2459788&brand=null

Chris Kaman was diagnosed when he was just 2 years old with ADD, and began taking Ritalin before the age of 4. He later began taking Adderall.

He's been in the NBA for 5 years, and recently had a neuro-psychologist study his brain in order to find out just exactly why he can't concentrate well. Coaches often complained that he would forget simple instructions which were given to him just seconds before by his coaches. The doctor found out that he doesn't have ADD, and stated that he estimates 'there are millions misdiagnosed for ADD'.

Kaman was preaching to others on how they can avoid the misery of his first 22 years of his life while taking meds and being misdiagnosed.

Thoughts, anyone?

Every authority I read about ADD agrees that you cannot diagnose someone at age 2 so I am not surprised that this happened.

But I really get tired that every time someone, especially if it's a public figure, get misdiagnosed and then feels it as their Holy Quest to convince the world that there are "millions misdiagnosed".

WTF, there was exactly ONE misdiagnosed.

What logical or moral justification does this person have to influence the public opinion like this?

Interesting. There's no doubt that diagnosing disorders such as ADD can be challenging. Stories such as this one certainly feed the media hype around misdiagnoses. Many are diagnosed based on feedback from a patient or their parents. Even more of a challenge is the fact that many diagnoses share symptoms, or are co-morbid (i.e. ADD and Bipolar).

I would hope that the take-away from this story is the importance of seeing a qualified and EXPERIENCED diagnostician, who has a very good grounding in disorders such as ADD. A complete and detailed history, combined with observations made by the specialist, are critical factors in making an accurate diagnosis. Once an accurate diagnosis has been made, the challenge is then to find a therapy and/or treatment plan that is effective for the patient. Again, there's no one medication or therapy that works for everyone.

In the end, its just as frustrating to not know what's wrong with you (or your child) and NOT be diagnosed, as it is being diagnosed as something you (or your child) is not.

Interesting side note: The story, nor those interviewed, explain what Chris Kaman IS dealing with...just that the Neuro-Psych is sure its not ADD.

If I was diagnosing a person with ADD knowing that 80% respond to a stimulant I would consider a positive response to the medication as a 99%
confirmation they have ADD (regardless of DSM requirements). If
the meds work take them if they don't don't. If you get rich and Scientology is
more your thing go for it.

he has got to have some form of Learning disability...I was a star athlete in school and college, but my LD kept me literally from "making the pros". Very, very frustrating stuff. I'm sure if he has short-term memery issues(Auditory processing disorder) he has forms of LD. I KNOW what he is dealing with. I never knew about this. You rarely even hear about athletes with disabilites. I had the exact same issues as this guy. The coaches would get VERY frustrated with me because I couldn't learn the plays and would be making mistakes a lot--coaches don't like this!

thanks for posting this! anyone have any other information on him, diagnosis, etc?

In the end, its just as frustrating to not know what's wrong with you (or your child) and NOT be diagnosed, as it is being diagnosed as something you (or your child) is not.

Interesting side note: The story, nor those interviewed, explain what Chris Kaman IS dealing with...just that the Neuro-Psych is sure its not ADD.That's what bothered me about the piece, too. Most experts agree that people with real ADHD are underdiagnosed - especially girls. Too bad the media coverage is so limited. I would like to know how Chris Kaman's life was ruined by medication and why a parent would continue a therapy that wasn't helping a child.

Interesting side note: The story, nor those interviewed, explain what Chris Kaman IS dealing with...just that the Neuro-Psych is sure its not ADD.

That was my next question. If his main complaint (or complaint of his coaches rather) was that he struggled with short-term memory recall, it would be interesting to see, now that he hopefully can now recieve some treatment or therapy, how much his game may improve! I believe memory recall is one part of executive function deficits, but am unaware if EFDs are particular to only ADHD, or if there are other learning issues involved as well. I hope it comes out at some point what it is, and if/how is is able to overcome it.

I just looked at the piece, he has a very positive outlook now! He comments on the piece that he wants to help people since he has this platform, I hope it comes out more details on his current diagnosis and the therapy (looks like some sort of neurotherapy) it was.

I didn't see anywhere we he said or implied that the years of medication ruined his life, though.

I hope the best for Chris Kaman and that he finds treatment for what ever ails him. Being misdiagnosed is sometimes worse than the actual ailment.

But, in the video, the fact that the neuropsychologist won't divulge how his "brain retraining" technology works, leads me to believe that there is no peer review and potentially no real science behind this. My big problem with this is not the fact that it is a different method, but the fact that efficacy has not been shown. It also doesn't help that he works for a Christian group that is opposed to medications in lieu of behavior modification.

I am all for any and all alternatives as long as efficacy has been proven.

Being misdiagnosed is sometimes worse than the actual ailment.


it can suck alright I know after being misdiagnosed bi-polar and having all my hair fall out due to the lithium I took - or the diagnosis of the depression whose medication put me into hyper - **tch mode {better known as hypomania my way} for two months which almost ended my marriage - all of this before I was correctly diagnosed ADD - but I didn't make a huge salary playing basket ball so I guess my suffering meant nothing -


Diagnosed ADD at 2 years old medicated at 4 this is at least 15 -17 years ago - honestly what a crock of feces or he saw a quack - frankly people are misdiagnosed with stuff every day by a variety of professionals So if any one comes up with a better system that guarantees 100% accuracy you may be able to earn about half as much money as this professional athlete does -




I would like to know how Chris Kaman's life was ruined by medication


Oh can't you see how much this poor suffering millionaire is experiencing. How his life is in such ruins as he runs up and down the basketball court making more money than most of us will see in a life time - yes I want to see it in crayola just how ADD medications ruined his life.


I would like to try some of that suffering after all I have been misdiagnosed several times because ADD was unknown to most professionals - and I was even the hyperactive variety.






He comments on the piece that he wants to help people since he has this platform, I hope it comes out more details on his current diagnosis and the therapy (looks like some sort of neurotherapy) it was.


I wouldn't hold my breath for details - but if his treatment is any thing resemblance personality adjustment or auditing then hold to your money tightly and run run far far away . . . . .






the meds work take them if they don't don't. If you get rich and Scientology is
more your thing go for it.

Agreed I $mell $cientology type dogma also







My big problem with this is not the fact that it is a different method, but the fact that efficacy has not been shown. It also doesn't help that he works for a Christian group that is opposed to medications in lieu of behavior modification.

I believe this to be extremely accurate assessment and I couldn't agree more.

I do not have problems with alternative therapies - nor do I mind what beliefs people have about their lives. My philosophy what ever works is fine with me.


I do however have problems with those who wish to use scare tactics to increase the misinformation about a condition I have and who participate in the spread of dogma about one of the treatment methods that works for me. I do not care if they dribble a basketball or on the floor these people are nothing more than puppets of a propaganda machine whose goal is trying to schmooze the public with their lies in an effort to further their own agendas - they are the enemies of the truth as I understand it.