Learn more about ADD


ADD-myths and facts

Myth #1: ADHD is a "phantom disorder".ADHD. In some cases, Ritalin even leads
FACT: The existence of ato an improvement of the of tics in
neurobiological disorder is not an issuechildren who have ADHD and Tourette's.
to be decided by the media throughMyth #7: Teachers around the country
public debate, but rather as a matter ofroutinely push pills on any students who
scientific research. Scientific studiesare even a little inattentive or
spanning 95 years summarized in theoveractive.
professional writings of Dr. RussellFACT: Teachers are well-meaning
Barkley, Dr. Sam Goldstein, and othersindividuals who have the best interests
have consistently identified a group ofof their students in mind. When they see
individuals who have trouble withstudents who are struggling to pay
concentration, impulse control, and inattention and concentrate, it is their
some cases, hyperactivity. Although theresponsibility to bring this to parents'
name given to this group of individuals,attention, so parents can take
our understanding of them, and theappropriate action. The majority of
estimated prevalence of this group hasteachers do not simply push pills- they
changed a number of times over the pastprovide information so that parents can
six decades, the symptoms haveseek out appropriate diagnostic help. We
consistently been found to clusterdo agree with the position that teachers
together. Currently called Attentionshould not diagnose ADHD. However, being
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, thison the front lines with children, they
syndrome has been recognized as acollect information, raise the suspicion
disability by the courts, the Unitedof ADHD, and bring the information to
States Department of Education, thethe attention of parents, who then need
Office for Civil Rights, the Unitedto have a full evaluation conducted
States Congress, the National Institutesoutside the school. The symptoms of ADHD
of Health, and all major professionalmust be present in school and at home
medical, psychiatric, psychological, andbefore a diagnosis is made; teachers do
educational associations.not have access to sufficient
Myth #2: Ritalin is like cocaine, andinformation about the child's
the failure to give youngsters drugfunctioning to make a diagnosis of ADHD
holidays from Ritalin causes them toor for that matter to make any kind of
develop psychosis.medical diagnosis.
FACT: Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is aMyth #8: Efforts by teachers to help
medically prescribed stimulantchildren who have attentional problems
medication that is chemically differentcan make more of a difference than
from cocaine. The therapeutic use ofmedications such as Ritalin.
methylphenidate does NOT CAUSE addictionFACT: It would be nice if this were
or dependence, and does not lead totrue, but recent scientific evidence
psychosis. Some children have suchfrom the multi-modal treatment trials
severe ADD symptoms that it can besponsored by the National Institute of
dangerous for them to have a medicationMental Health suggests it is a myth. In
holiday, for example a child who is sothese studies, stimulant medication
hyper and impulsive he'll run intoalone was compared to stimulant
traffic withoug stopping to look first.medication plus a multi-modal
Hallucinations are an extremely rarepsychological and educational treatment,
side-effect of methylphenidate, andas treatments for children with ADHD.
their occurrence has nothing to do withThe scientists found that the
the presence or absence of medicationmulti-modal treatment plus the
holidays. Individuals with ADHD who aremedication was not much better than the
properly treated with stimulantmedication alone. Teachers and
medication such as Ritalin have a lowertherapists need to continue to do
risk of developing problems with alcoholeverything they can to help individuals
and other drugs than the generalwith ADHD, but we need to realize that
population. More importantly, fiftyif we don't also alter the biological
years of research has repeatedly shownfactors that affect ADHD, we won't see
that children, adolescents, and adultsmuch change.
with ADHD safely benefit from treatmentMyth #9: CH.A.D.D. is supported by drug
with methylphenidate.companies, and along with many
Myth #3: No study has ever demonstratedprofessionals, are simply in this field
that taking stimulant medications canto make a quick buck on ADHD.
cause any lasting behavioral orFACT: Thousands of parents and
educational benefit to ADHD children.professionals volunteer countless hours
FACT: Research has repeatedly showndaily to over 600 chapters of CH.A.D.D.
that children, adolescents, and adultsaround the U.S. and Canada on behalf of
with ADHD benefit from therapeuticindividuals with ADHD. CH.A.D.D. is very
treatment with stimulant medications,open about disclosing any contributions
which has been used safely and studiedfrom drug companies. These contributions
for more than 50 years. For example, Theonly support the organization's national
New York Times reviewed a recent studyconference, which consists of a series
from Sweden showing positive long- termof educational presentations, 95% of
effects of stimulant medication therapywhich are on topics other than
on children with ADHD. Readersmedications. None of the local chapters
interested in more studies on thereceive any of this money. It is a
effectiveness of medication with ADHDdisgrace to impugn the honesty and
should consult the professional writingsefforts of all of these dedicated
of Dr. Russell Barkley, Drs. Gabriellevolunteers. CH.A.D.D. supports all known
Weiss and Lily Hechtman, and Dr. Josepheffective treatments for ADHD, including
Biederman.medication, and takes positions against
Myth #4: ADHD kids are learning to makeunproven and costly remedies.
excuses, rather than take responsibilityMyth #10: It is not possible to
for their actions.accurately diagnose ADD or ADHD in
FACT: Therapists, educators, andchildren or adults.
physicians routinely teach children thatFACT: Although scientists have not yet
ADHD is a challenge, not an excuse.developed a single medical test for
Medication corrects their underlyingdiagnosing ADHD, clear-cut clinical
chemical imbalance, giving them a fairdiagnostic criteria have been developed,
chance of facing the challenges ofresearched, and refined over several
growing up to become productivedecades. The current generally accepted
citizens. Accommodations for thediagnostic criteria for ADHD are listed
disabled, as mandated by federal andin the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
state laws, are not ways of excusingof Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) published
them from meeting society'sby the American Psychiatric Association
responsibilities, but rather make it(1995). Using these criteria and
possible for them to compete on amultiple methods to collect
leveled playing field.comprehensive information from multiple
Myth #5: ADHD is basically due to badinformants, ADHD can be reliably
parenting and lack of discipline, anddiagnosed in children and adults.
all that ADHD children really need isMyth #11: Children outgrow ADD or ADHD.
old-fashioned discipline, not any ofFACT: ADHD is not found just in
these phony therapies.children. We have learned from a number
FACT: There are still someof excellent follow-up studies conducted
parent-bashers around who believe theover the past few decades that ADHD
century-old anachronism that childoften lasts a lifetime. Over 70% of
misbehavior is always a moral problem ofchildren diagnosed as having ADHD will
the "bad child." Under this model, thecontinue to manifest the full clinical
treatment has been to "beat the Devilsyndrome in adolescence, and 15-50% will
out of the child." Fortunately, most ofcontinue to manifest the full clinical
us are more enlightened today. A body ofsyndrome in adulthood. If untreated,
family interaction research conducted byindividuals with ADHD may develop a
Dr. Russell Barkley and others hasvariety of secondary problems as they
unequivocally demonstrated that simplymove through life, including depression,
providing more discipline without anyanxiety, substance abuse, academic
other interventions worsens rather thanfailure, vocational problems, marital
improves the behavior of children withdiscord, and emotional distress. If
ADHD. One can't make a paraplegic walkproperly treated, most individuals with
by applying discipline. Similarly, oneADHD live productive lives and cope
can't make a child with areasonably well with their symptoms.
biologically-based lack of self-controlMyth #12: Methylphenidate prescriptions
act better by simply applying disciplinein the U.S. have increased 600%.
alone.FACT: The production quotas for
Myth #6: Ritalin is unsafe, causingmethylphenidate increased 6-fold;
serious weight loss, mood swings,however that DEA production quota is a
Tourette's syndrome, and sudden,gross estimate based on a number of
unexplained deaths.factors, including FDA estimates of
FACT: Research has repeatedly shownneed, drug inventories at hand, EXPORTS,
that children, adolescents, and adultsand industry sales expectations. One
with ADHD benefit from treatment withcannot conclude that a 6-fold increase
Ritalin (also known as methylphenidate),in production quotas translates to a
which has been safely used for6-fold increase in the use of
approximately 50 years. There are NOmethylphenidate among U.S. children any
published cases of deaths from overdosesmore than one should conclude that
of Ritalin; if you take too muchAmericans eat 6 times more bread because
Ritalin, you will feel terrible and actU.S. wheat production increased 6-fold
strange for a few hours, but you willeven though much of the grain is stored
not die. This cannot be said about manyfor future use and export to countries
other medications. The unexplainedthat have no wheat production. Further,
deaths cited in some articles are from aof the approximately 3.5 million
combination of Ritalin and other drugs,children who meet the criteria for ADHD,
not from Ritalin alone. Furtheronly about 50% of them are diagnosed and
investigation of those cases hashave stimulant medication included in
revealed that most of the children hadtheir treatment plan. The estimated
unusual medical problems whichnumber of children taking
contributed to their deaths. It is truemethylphenidate for ADD suggested in
that many children experience appetitesome media stories fails to note that
loss, and some moodiness or "reboundmethylphenidate is also prescribed for
effect" when Ritalin wears off. A veryadults who have ADHD, people with
small number of children may show somenarcolepsy, and geriatric patients who
temporary tics, but these do not becomereceive considerable benefit from it for
permanent. Ritalin does not permanentlycertain conditions associated with old
alter growth, and usually does notage such as memory functioning. (see
result in weight loss. Ritalin does notPediatrics, December 1996, Vol. 98, No.
cause Tourette's syndrome, rather many6)
youngsters with Tourette's also have



1 A B C D 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102