ADD and ADHD at Encore Medical Systems

ADD And ADHD Column

Common Myths About ADD

? Attention Deficit Disorder does not actually exist; it is an excuse to allow children to behave poorly and avoid discipline.

Great strides are being taken to fully understand ADD and its causes. However, there is no question it is a real disorder that is exhibited by inattention, impulsiveness, distractibility, and sometimes hyperactivity.

? All children have poor attention spans and are hyperactive; therefore children diagnosed with ADD are just like any other child.

ADD causes excessive impulsiveness, inattention, distractibility and sometimes hyperactivity; the very nature of diagnosing ADD is that the behavior is more extreme than that of other children of the same age. While most children display these behaviors at some time, it does not normally hinder their day to day activities. Children with ADD have constant problems with these behaviors impeding their productivity on a daily basis.

? Attention Deficit Disorder can be prevented through discipline or diet.

Because ADD is a biological and genetic disorder, diet and discipline are not causes. Many suggestions have been made that poor diet, fatty foods, and sugar are factors that cause the disorder; this is absolutely not the case. Likewise, lack of discipline does not cause ADD. In many cases a child with ADD has been excessively reprimanded to no avail.

? All children with ADD are hyperactive

There is a common misconception that Attention Deficit Disorder inherently means a child is hyperactive; this is not true. Many children have the predominantly inattentive type of ADD, meaning the primary characteristic is lack of attention, short attention span, and distractibility. This type does not include hyperactivity as a symptom. ADD without hyperactivity is often more difficult to identify, as the children are usually just thought to be unproductive or lazy.

? Most children outgrow ADD

Studies suggest that most children continue the symptoms of ADD throughout adolescence, and some even into adulthood. Exhibiting the same behaviors, these individuals will continue to show distractibility, difficulty in staying on task, and impulsiveness for many years.

? There is nothing parents or teachers can do to control a child with ADD

This is simply not the case. The purpose of parents and teachers in dealing with a child with ADD should be to help teach them how to control their own actions. There are various ways to do this, including behavior modification, positive reinforcement procedures, and other techniques. While traditional discipline may be less effective, measures can be taken to help control an ADD child