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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.

Unfortunately liberal attitudes have infected the practice of medicine. We would like to think that science is above political ideology, but witness global warming and the FDA's food pyramid as examples.

Politics is not just governmental but professional as well. Many rank file physicians are conservative whereas the leadership of the AMA, AAP, etc tend to be liberal.

What explains the recent epidemic of ADD diagnoses, especially in the schools? Not that long ago these cases were rare. I was given Ritalin as a 12 year old child and I am now 52, but I was a rare case back then.

Do you know what the diet was of these kids you refer to? Could sugar and starch be a factor? Is ADD merely the hyperactive phase of continuing high blood sugar levels leading to hypoglycemia and diabeties, which are also epidemic?

I don't know it all, but I can guarentee you the medical community doesn't know it all and the school nurses and counselors don't know it all.

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.

My grandson has "IT." Boy, would I love to lay my hands on him, because I LOVE HIM!!!

How come we did NOT have these diseases when I went to school from 1937 - 1950???

When we were acting out in school, we were NOT sent to a school-shrink, but down to the school Principal asking us to lean over his desk and lowered down our pants and swiped by his thin bamboo stick. If we went home complaining, our parents would repeat the "treatment." Guess if we would pay better attention in class and at home as well!!!