[sarasmom]

Why is it that you refuse to see that ADD is the "new" requested diagnosis and parenting drug fad ?
The last one was Autism.
As I posted, I know a parent whose children are autistic.
They were, and would have still been permanently labled severely autistic, except for the incredibly hard work their mother has dedicated the last 12 years of her life towards.
They can now function in normal society.Not perfectly, but adequately.Even to the point of considering higher education after high school.
I know from conversations with my friend that SOME parents decided the reason their children were not behaviorly perfect, must be due to autism, when that was the latest fad.
That has nothing to do with actual cases of true disorders.
Just the "in" diagnosis for parents who did not understand that it often takes hard work to raise a child, and even the "normal" children have problems.
I have encountered many more of "those" type parents in regular daycare centers and public schools, than I do actual special needs children.
Mostly because parents of developementally challenged children avoid placing their children in situations they know they are not yet capable of dealing with.They can often function on the level of their peers, for short periods, and often later they can be mainstreamed.
But it is no more "right" that you require my child to be lectured to be extra-supportive of your child because he/she is ADD, than it is for me to require your child to be extra supportive and sensitive of my child because she is ......,
Why would you take that as a personal attack?
Since you say you have a child with actual severe ADD,you, more than anyone else, might be expected to decry the misuse of the diagnosis for children who are not actually ADD, just inconveniently needing more attention and work than some parents want to expend.
Best of wishes for your family.
If I might make a suggestion, based on experience,go outside the traditional medical and phychiatric professionals and link up with other parents whose children have the same problems your child does.
Compare notes, and use your best judgement.You are the only expert on your own child.
Nobody cares more about your own child than you do.
No matter how much you pay them.

[Capriole]

I don't dispute what you say about overdiagnosing and overmedicating. I would simply like to respectfully draw your attention to the fact that there has been a good bit of generalizing on this thread, along with blanket accusations that anyone who permits his or her child to be diagnosed as ADHD is neglectful, lazy, or selfish. My purpose in my post is to point out that ADHD and ADD are real syndromes, and if a child is identified as having one of these symptom-constellations that is not necessarily evidence that his uncaring parents simply want to avoid responsibility or collect SSI by drugging him.