Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD Replies to Father of 5 Year Old Labeled ADHD.

RB (11 10 00) wrote:

  My 5 year old son was very recently diagnosed as a ADHD child. We
  have observed him to be a highly active child since birth.

[Dr. Baughman:
if all developmental landmarks were on time, if his vocabulary (spoken) is as
extensive as age-mates, if he is learning to read (if being taught by
sounding out), it is unlikely that his being 'highly active' indicates
the least brain abnormality]

  As someone who has no medical/scientific training in this field, I can
  only trust that ADHD is real

[Dr. Baughman:
as a parent you will continue to believe this to
your child's, your’s and your entire family's everlasting detriment,].

  However, if what you claim is true, and ADHD is not a disease, would you at least call it a disorder?

[Dr. Baughman:
this is non-scientific semantics. If there is no abnormality in the brain of your child there is no
disease. Psychiatry will trick and deceive with their words, then victimize. Do not be a fool]

  how does one go about managing this "condition".  At the end of the
  day I still have to cope with my son's behavior.

[Dr. Baughman:
In order to do so you must know if he is normal or not
in order to know what your expectations and parenting methods must be. If normal,
as seems the case, there is no end to the amount of patience you must extend, and
love, and thought and planning as you try to teach him self control]

  If you or any one else want to call it this or that, I don't care

[Dr. Baughman:
You will care if mandatory psychiatric drugging goes with the label and if the school, or Child Protective Services or some
court, tells you, you are unfit parent if you fail to give him his Ritalin or Adderall or other
amphetamine]

  What is important is how do we deal with this.  What do
  you suggest instead of "conventional" management and treatment for ADHD?

[Dr. Baughman:
There is no quick or easy was to successfully parent a child, and the job is never done.
Psychiatry is nowhere to be found in the plan for successful child rearing.
Psychiatry today, invariably comes with drugs, and there is a term for
that, and if you or anyone thinks there is a place for drugs in the
successful rearing of children, you are terribly mistaken]

  RA