[limitedgov]

ADD is a catch-all diagnosis for: lack of discipline, lack of respect, staying up late, watching TV, and lots of other things. I think its also due to the anti-male attitude of many of the feminist NEA teachers.

But IMHO the main reason is poor diet and too much sugar! You don't know how much sugar we consume until you try the Atkin's diet and check the carbohydrate amount on the package. This parallels the epidemic of obesity we see everyday.

[Williams]

It is entirely possible that many children are diagnosed with ADD who merely have behavioral disorders, or even just normal acting out. But there are children and adults witha very real and very serious form of ADD. This has nothing to do with boys being bad in class. It has to do with kids who have ADD severe enough that they cannot learn to read, cannot study, cannot control their emotions well enough to function. For many of these kids medication has been the difference that enabled them to get an education at all.

I find it troubling when a medical issue becomes the plaything of a political ideology, in this case conservatism. Smirks from know it alls who do NOT know it all are not a viable approach to medical issues. The condition exists and I know the histories of kids who are very much affected by it. These kids' parents would have given their right arms to cure the condition in 5 easy lessons. It's not that simple.

[jwh_Denver]

"too much sugar!"

Crap.

[hocndoc]

How about a totally breast fed baby who has signs and symptoms before 1 year old?

See http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1676158/posts?page=67#67

[Hop A Long Cassidy]

>>>But IMHO the main reason is poor diet and too much sugar! You don't know how much sugar we consume until you try the Atkin's diet and check the carbohydrate amount on the package. This parallels the epidemic of obesity we see everyday.

I agree: too much eating sugar (all the simple carbs which turn into sugar), too much playing inward-focused, shoot-em-up computer games, not getting enough exercise.