Palm Readers/Psychics
Aliens
Bigfoot
Conspiracy Theories
Celery
ADD
Now before anyone gets upset about my list including Celery...let me explain: I seriously doubt that anyone REALLY likes the taste of plain uncooked, unsmeared (as in with peanut butter or dressing) celery...it's just awful.
No, I know, ADD was the item on the list that I really wanted to talk about because Celery didn't really need an explanation. Here are two things that I think about ADD (remember this is just my unresearched, novice, biased, and NPR-influenced opinion): 1) It is real. and 2) Maybe it's a symptom of modern life.
I have kids, I have two boys for that matter. It is boys who, statistically, are more often diagnosed. What if, ADD symptoms are really just the results of this modern hectic life we live. I listened to a program on NPR last year that said 40% of parents who take their children for ADD diagnoses, leave the doctors office with an ADD diagnoses for themselves. This number has stuck with me. Here is a list I found of common adult ADD symptoms:
- poor organizational skills (home, office, desk, or car is extremely messy and cluttered)
- tendency to procrastinate
- trouble starting and finishing projects
- underestimating the time it will take you to complete tasks
- “zoning out” without realizing it, even in the middle of a conversation.
- poor listening skills; hard time remembering conversations and following directions.
- frequently interrupt others or talk over them
- sense of underachievement
- easily flustered and stressed out
- irritability or mood swings
- trouble staying motivated
- hypersensitivity to criticism
- feelings of inner restlessness, agitation
- doing a million things at once
Looking at this list, I can't help but wonder if these things are just a result of the busy and fast lifestyles so many people live (this was a central theme in the NPR program you can read the transcript here). I exhibit more than half of those things on the list on a regular basis....and Chief the other half.
My oldest has been having some difficulty at school, he is easily distracted, nosy, and forgetful. He is doing fine academically but pushing the limits, I think, of his teacher's patience (which is reason enough to work on this problem)... I am going to a meeting tomorrow actually, and I am worried that they will recommend an evaluation. Here is my take: he's 8. Lets try some other things before we get too crazy, not everything needs a "diagnosis."
Thanks to some smart friends...and a trip to a sporting goods store, I've got a few things that we are going to try. I'll keep you posted.
2 comments:
I agree! I really think that we are all overstimulated by modern life and culture. I think as a society we should all simplify and slow down. That list is amazing; I have a lot of those symptoms too. And I agree not everything has to be diagnosed right away. Good luck with your teacher meeting.
I'm so glad to hear you rant on this. It is also one of my pet-peves. While I completely agree with everything you've stated, my theory has been that society is trying to make children conform a little too much at a too early of an age. It seems every year they expect kids to read early and earlier. And being a mom of what I would call a "high energy" or "strong willed" boy I can tell you that traditional school is not a great environment for him to learn. He just can't sit still and focus for that long! And for that reason I chose to hold him back a year. I don't think there is anything wrong with him, I just think he would learn better if he can actively participate then by sitting quietly listening or reading!
Would love to know how the meeting went!
Post a Comment