Neal Boortz and ADD

www.boortz.com ^ | various | Neal Boortz

[Johnny Gage]

Bad behavior in school can be the result of numerous other factors as well, not just ADD/ADHD.

1) Dyslexia
2) Skill Giftedness (causing extreme boredom)
3) Sleep Apnea

You can get some links to more information on my profile page.

A vast majority of schools just lump all this into "ADD/ADHD" without bothering to learn what the true issue is the cause.

[netmilsmom]

I feel for you and agree. I grew up in a very loving Catholic home, and my mother, who was contantly belittled by nuns who looked at her older brother (who eventually became a bishop)and asked why she couldn't be more like him, took no crap from these women. If we were bad, my mom was there finding out the problem, if we were punished unfairly, BOTH my mom and dad were there. The old women may have been on power trips but my parents were very involved as well. This was the beginning of mother's who worked and not all of them were involved.

[tictoc]

May I ask, do you have any knowledge of a drug called reboxetin? (Trade name in Europe: Edronax from Pharmacia & Upjohn)

My physician has diagnosed me with adult ADD and says this might help me.

I'm not really looking for medical advice, but maybe a link or two to more information before I start taking a drug with potentially severe side effects.

[xsmommy]

Thanks for posting that, i totally agree with Mona Charen.

[widowithfoursons]

DAWEE! Five years after graduation could pretty much cripple you for life. Pass those MCATS and not get admitted because of psychtropic drug use.

[widowithfoursons]

Sorry, psychotropic.

[TheWillardHotel]

ADHD is HUMBUG from start to finish. Don't fall for the
hoax!

[drjimmy]

I have long been saying ADD is just an excuse for bad behavior. And then Neal Boortz comes along and validates it.
You shouldn't be flamed for having an opinion. But if you're looking to a radio talk show host to "validate" what you have to say, I'll match mine up against yours any day. Like me, Mike Gallagher has a son with ADHD. Because of his personal experience and knowledge, Gallagher has the courage to go against the grain of the rest of conservative talk radio and discuss the reality of this neurological disorder.

The Dr. Bob Jacobs referenced in the Neal Boortz pieces isn't a medical doctor, and he serves on the advisory board of the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology. Sounds like an impressive organization, doesn't it? It was founded by Peter Breggin, who at least has an M.D., but who is shredded by Quackwatch. In addition to claiming there is no such thing as ADHD, Breggin says there is no such thing as schizophrenia or any other brain disorder whatsoever that has a genetic or biological component. I wouldn't be surprised if he blames Alzheimer's on "bad parenting."

And in some odd cosmic coincidence, Breggin recently took up residence in none other than the City of Evil itself--Ithaca.

[Zavien Doombringer]

Well, you don't have to feel sorry for me, I learned the "truth". All that took was some simple reading of the Bible. (which the church told you not to do - for that very reason) They ( the nuns) were on the very edge of abuse, but are protected because of religion. Go figure...
Must of us rebelled not because we were ADHD, or ADD but because we were just "bucking" the system.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I didn't say you are connected with Scientology, but you have certainly been influenced by "research" which is funded and pushed into the media by Scientology. Just like A.N.S.W.E.R., Scientology employs hordes of "useful idiots" to achieve its objectives.

The fact there's a huge supply of examples of phony ADD diagnoses, hardly proves that there are no real cases. I heartily agree that discipline, diet, elimation of video games, etc. need to be employed first, before any proper diagnosis of ADD/ADHD can be made. And I heartily agree than in a majority of diagnoses, this has not been done. But there are also plenty of examples where it has been done exhaustively, and the problem remained serious, and was significantly improved by medication. More importantly, there is some evidence to suggest that medication during childhood may increase the chance that the child outgrows the problem (most children who use Ritalin during their school years do not continue to need it as adults). Waiting until past the childhood/adolescent period of high neurological malleability could result in the problem becoming permanent, when that could have been avoided.

[grapeape]

He correctly points out that there is no proof that ADHD exists. I am 35 a conservative and a Republican I can tell you that when I go off of my medication there is a huge difference in my whole life. My life until being diagnosed with ADHD was total Chaos. You are totally over reacting to these nut-cases on TV. Wow imagine that. Yes it is diagnosed wrong, but look who is doing the diagnosing. Most of these people can’t hold a real job and we are going to over react to their mad ravings? Come on guys, no one is holding a gun to these worthless parents heads.

The people who over react are the one’s who liked to beat the crap out of us. I know they liked it because I remember the look on their faces. No matter which way you slice it you are worse than any misdiagnosis ever.

[netmilsmom]

My daughter is 2. See post 8. I can't find info on your page for this. Can you help?

[technochick99]

Michael Fumento is a fantastic researcher, even when I don't like the way he says things.

[Zavien Doombringer]

I heartily agree that discipline, diet, elimation of video games, etc. need to be employed first, before any proper diagnosis of ADD/ADHD can be made.

On discipline, I only discipline when the kids "dis-obey", not when the accidently make a mistake... On Video games, mine hardly play at all, my daughter (who is ADHD)doesn't play them. On Diet, you may be on to something...My daughter hardly eats, I don't know if it is drug related or not. But I am willing to try to see if diet can help improve her condition. Any suggestions?

[grapeape]

Thank you from a someone who has to deal with this rediculous condition as an Adult. Having to take medication just to be able to do something everone else does really sucks. What is worse is there is no readilly apparent (visible) sign, so fools can't SEE what is wrong. Having the Liberals on our side only hurts matters. Now I know how poor people feel. With friends like these.... Well you know.

[brianl703]

Every state is different. My comments are for Virginia's laws and policies. That is where I live; I know what they are.

They can't get these records if they've been destroyed. Even if they haven't been destroyed, records policy/law still requires written permission from the student to release them.

Now if you want to argue that policies aren't followed, fine. At least tell about some situations where this happened--if you know of any.

As far as the other concern, the case where someone begins work or school within 5 years of graduation is adequately handled by the part of the policy, which I mentioned above, that requires written permission from the former student for the release of the records.

Further protecting the release of this information is the fact that in Virginia, records are divided into Category I and Category II records.


Category I records are things like grades, standardized test scores, awards won, etc. Category I records are kept "forever" and are the records that will be sent if a request for the records is made with written permission from the student.

Category II records are things like special education/health/etc. records. These are only kept for 5 years after graduation and will only be sent if a request is specifically made for "category II records" with written permission from the student.

If, hypothetically speaking, I were to have been taking ritalin when I was in elementary and middle school, you would find NO record of it in my school files.

If (that's big IF) you tracked down the doctor that originally made the ADHD diagnosis, there might be some records of it; that would still require written permission from the patient.

[iranger]

"That's because the Catholic Church doesn't View Jesus as the Supreme Judge. The Church is, and what ever happens happens and you deserve it!"

Careful, the Supreme Judge is judging you as type.

[amarok]

• I don't consider ADD a disease. 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).

[Robert A Cook PE]

Jean here,

My mother is a teacher in a High School. She will tell you that ADD actually exists... in about a third of a percent of all diagnosed cases. She's taught for seven years, and she knows. When a real ADD or ADHD kid comes along, they are usualy some of her hardest working kids. My mom is usually called the strictest, most disciplined, and hardest test giver at the school, yet these real ADHD and ADD students thrive in her class.

However, more often than not, she get kids who are merely diagnosed with the disorder and could function fine without any drugs. But usually by the time they get to high school, they have been taught they're the victim and incapable of controlling themselves. They use the disease as an excuse not to do work. If they do badly on a test, all they need to say is they couldn't concentrate even though they had taken they're drugs, and suddenly it's my mom's fault they got a bad grade. Cause she doesn't treat them special (like every other teacher they have ever known). Note: the real sick kids never EVER make this complaint.

[Zavien Doombringer]

To a fellow Virginian to another, I must admit, I do not know the policies concering the category II school records.

I didn't know they existed. I know that when I went into the service, they had information on a couple offences I made. (distruction of property - Writing on a desk, who isn't guilty?) Several detentions...etc. My recruiter read them outloud to me! But I never considered categories...