Every point below is what really happens to someone who is ADHD .... The first problem is that the person with it does not realize that most everyone else does not have it. They think it is perfectly normal to feel the way they do and don't realize that they are acting/behaving differently than others.
Quite frankly it is CRUEL and DISPICABLE to expect a child to be able to control something that they feel is normal and especially to punish them for something that takes years to learn to control much less live with.
SHAME on those of you out there who feel that a good spanking is all that is needed to cure a child with ADHD. I'll bet you'd spank a one legged child for not running as fast as the others too.
This is from someone who's had to live with it all his life ... and my father NEVER spared the rod.
Points that are true ...
Whether or not it is a true disorder is uncertain; however, it is real.
ADD is probably over-diagnosed and can be used as an excuse for unacceptable behavior, but that doesn't discount its existence.
Many children with ADD are not behaviorial problems at all; they often tend to be daydreamers because they easily lose focus or easily become distracted.
While a person with ADD can easily lose focus, they also tend to hyper-focus on things they find highly stimulating. And they look for highly stimulating activities on which they can focus.
ADD is more often diagnosed in boys; however, my sons were never diagnosed with ADD, but both my daughters were. All attended a Christian school (and have since graduated). The youngest has ADHD.
Medication is just one way of handling ADD. Parents and teachers often know how to structure tasks that aid an ADD child (as well as non-ADD children)
Last ... but very important point ... poeple who don't believe ADHD is real ... don't know what the HELL the're talking about