[commonguymd]

Thanks. I guess it even boils down to children in her mind that get very little learning stimulus at home or don’t have parents willing to control and command. I can appreciate the correction.

[grellis]

I felt I had to add it because of what I see every day. Very few of the kids in my neighborhood aren't on some kind of medication for one or more of these various "disorders" and "syndromes." They are, with only one exception I've seen so far, the most normal bunch of kids you can imagine, given their circumstances at home. Most of them are being raised by Grandma, who isn't really interested in raising them, because she already raised her own. Few of them know their fathers, fewer still ever see their fathers. These kids are basically raising themselves, with the help of Cartoon Network and XBox. Of course they are basket cases, when compared to kids being raised in a traditional households. That's not a medical problem, though, and it shouldn't be treated pharmacologically.

There is one boy in our 'hood who clearly exhibits behavior way out of the childhood norm. He's eight or nine, has an extraordinary vocabulary, but it is nearly impossible to talk to him. His mind changes directions after two sentences. Socially, he acts several years younger than he is--almost like a toddler. He has a very nice family, both parents in the home, both very involved. His siblings are just regular kids, but very protective of him.