SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST WRITES OF THE ABSURDITY OF TEACHERS “DIAGNOSING” CHILDREN ADHD/ADD

F    @aol.com wrote:

  Dear Dr. Baughman:
 
  I'm a Speech-Language Pathologist who has been working in the schools for
  the past two years (most of my experience is with adults -- communication and
  swallowing probs secondary to CVAs, Dementia, Parkinson's, etc.). Though I
  had not conducted any research in ADHD prior to working in the schools, it
  didn't take long to see the absurdity of teachers "diagnosing" these kids. At
  Special Ed. meetings held to determine if a child should qualify for
  services, I've heard teachers say: "He  doesn't have ADHD, he just has ADD."
  "I've only had to prescribe meds for a couple of kids the last couple of
  years." That a number of kids have this "disorder" is deemed axiomatic.
 
  It was so wonderful to discover your writings concerning one of the most
  profound issues facing our country. It was like "I knew it!" "I was right --
  they don't know what they're doing!" It's just subjective nonsense and it
  would be laughable if it weren't for the harm done to the thousands of
  precious children.
 
  I'm sure you're extremely busy, but I'll take a chance and ask you a couple
  of questions. It will become increasingly difficult to attend
  Multidisciplinary Team meetings as I learn about the faulty thinking that
  results in kids qualifying for services - kids who clearly do not have a
  neurological problem (at the end of the school year, I was the sole vote
  against in such decisions). ......

  Thank you so much for your
  important work. You have been a tremendous help to me.
 
  Sincerely,
  A    K