Mohler on ADHD
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Augusta
Puritan Board Doctor
I would have said the same thing years ago. I didn't have these troubles when I was a kid. I have one son with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and so our family is very at risk for other spectrum traits. I am seeing it first hand.
I have one child that can concentrate to beat the band and get all their work done well and efficiently. I have another who is a little distracted but can buckle down and kick out their work. Then I have another who is almost incapable of staying focused. This child is like a little bee fluttering from flower to flower without a care or thought. I am having so much trouble with said child that I am pulling my hair out.
Now I am in no hurry to medicate this one. I don't know if I ever would for this. I am trying very hard to help this child organize their thoughts and actions. It is proving very hard. I can understand a teacher pulling their hair out and trying to get the kid medicated. It is amazing what medication can do for a child like this. ADHD and ADD are neurological disorders. The brain isn't wired right. It's not a behavioral problem that just needs to be corrected in the will.
I am not saying that they are not capable of overcoming these obstacles and gain good character in the hard process. I am saying that it is an obstacle put in their path that they have to work around, it is real. That is what I am hoping to do with my children who struggle. I am just trying to say this is a real disorder and it is on the ASD spectrum and it is in fact a neurological disorder.
I have one child that can concentrate to beat the band and get all their work done well and efficiently. I have another who is a little distracted but can buckle down and kick out their work. Then I have another who is almost incapable of staying focused. This child is like a little bee fluttering from flower to flower without a care or thought. I am having so much trouble with said child that I am pulling my hair out.
Now I am in no hurry to medicate this one. I don't know if I ever would for this. I am trying very hard to help this child organize their thoughts and actions. It is proving very hard. I can understand a teacher pulling their hair out and trying to get the kid medicated. It is amazing what medication can do for a child like this. ADHD and ADD are neurological disorders. The brain isn't wired right. It's not a behavioral problem that just needs to be corrected in the will.
I am not saying that they are not capable of overcoming these obstacles and gain good character in the hard process. I am saying that it is an obstacle put in their path that they have to work around, it is real. That is what I am hoping to do with my children who struggle. I am just trying to say this is a real disorder and it is on the ASD spectrum and it is in fact a neurological disorder.
I know many kids who do not have "fits this description".
ADD is one of the bogey-men that is popular for conservatives to take shots at - usually because they have little understanding of ADD and its treatment. I doubt that Mohler has really done much research on the issue. He's simply joined the bandwagon.
ADD is one of the bogey-men that is popular for conservatives to take shots at - usually because they have little understanding of ADD and its treatment. I doubt that Mohler has really done much research on the issue. He's simply joined the bandwagon.
Obviously, I can't play the "I used to be a boy" card, but I have spent my entire adult life raising and/or teaching boys.
The advertisement Mohler cites can apply to "typical" boy behavior. There are also boys who manifest behavior described in the advertisement that are way off the charts.
First of all no teacher can demand medications for any student. It takes a medical prescription, in some cases from a referred psychiatrist, before medications are even in the picture. No one would want non-medical people prescribing anyway. There are at least two other conditions with symptoms similar to ADHD and the medications are wildly different. That is why even many doctors in this instance dislike prescribing on their own and have children examined by another doctor.
Second, there are MANY interventions that need to take place before medication is even discussed with a doctor. There are behavior and dietary modifications that are very effective when performed consistently. I feel bad about the situations where parents push for medications because they find behavior/diet modifications "too much of a hassle".
Third, I just plain feel bad for some of the "ADHD" students I have known. They so want to be able to fit in. They aren't stupid. They know that the other children don't behave like they do. It breaks my heart to watch them try so hard at the beginning of each new "episode" to be like everyone else. Some of them go on to meds for a time to give them the sensation of being focused and controlling their bodies. That way they know what they are even striving for.
Sorry this is long. I guess I have an issue with "pronouncements" on this topic, given my age and experiences with it.
The advertisement Mohler cites can apply to "typical" boy behavior. There are also boys who manifest behavior described in the advertisement that are way off the charts.
First of all no teacher can demand medications for any student. It takes a medical prescription, in some cases from a referred psychiatrist, before medications are even in the picture. No one would want non-medical people prescribing anyway. There are at least two other conditions with symptoms similar to ADHD and the medications are wildly different. That is why even many doctors in this instance dislike prescribing on their own and have children examined by another doctor.
Second, there are MANY interventions that need to take place before medication is even discussed with a doctor. There are behavior and dietary modifications that are very effective when performed consistently. I feel bad about the situations where parents push for medications because they find behavior/diet modifications "too much of a hassle".
Third, I just plain feel bad for some of the "ADHD" students I have known. They so want to be able to fit in. They aren't stupid. They know that the other children don't behave like they do. It breaks my heart to watch them try so hard at the beginning of each new "episode" to be like everyone else. Some of them go on to meds for a time to give them the sensation of being focused and controlling their bodies. That way they know what they are even striving for.
Sorry this is long. I guess I have an issue with "pronouncements" on this topic, given my age and experiences with it.
Augusta
Puritan Board Doctor
Carolyn makes a good point about dietary changes. It really can have a dramatic effect and I am going to consider putting my other children on the same diet restrictions as their autistic brother. I know other children who have benefitted also.
My comment about teachers trying to get students medicated was in the sense of them talking informing parents of problems and encouraging them to get medical tests and things in order to get the children medicated. I am aware that teachers cannot prescribe meds but they can pressure parents.
My comment about teachers trying to get students medicated was in the sense of them talking informing parents of problems and encouraging them to get medical tests and things in order to get the children medicated. I am aware that teachers cannot prescribe meds but they can pressure parents.
Quickened
Puritan Board Senior
I was one of those "ADHD" kids. What i found was that the medication they gave me caused deep depression. I had trouble focusing and the whole lot.
Recently i read about dietary changes. I have done things like cutting caffeene out completely and sugar as much as i can. I definately can concentrate better. I just wanted to chime in because i can attest to this
Why don't they just put Playstations in the classroom and let them play for 4 - 5 hours. That thing sure holds their attention and the ADD seems to go away for that time frame. I too have children that are all different (5). One struggles more than the rest and it is frustrating but she loves to crochet and write and during those times it is no problem but keeping her attention in something else is like pulling healthy teeth.
JBaldwin
Puritan Board Post-Graduate
If I were in school today, I would be diagnosed ADHD, so would both of my daughters (but thankfully, they are home schooled). How did they deal with children back then?
We walked 3/4 of a mile to school (each way) four times a day (we went home for lunch), that's 3 miles of walking. The children who didn't walk home for lunch ate and then played on the play ground for 45 minutes until classes started back. We had 15 minute recesses twice a day, and on the three days we didn't have recess in the afternoon, we had 30 minutes of physical education. When we got home from school, we didn't have homework, we went outside and played until it was dinner time. By that time, we were well worn out and ready for a good night's sleep, and obesity was rare!
The way I deal with my hyper children is to exercise them a lot. My older daughter walks, and my younger daughter jumps on the rebounder. They are outside playing as much as possible, and we find plenty of work for them to do around the house.
By the way, 15 minutes of exercise prior to school work is a good way to get my girls to sit down and study.
We walked 3/4 of a mile to school (each way) four times a day (we went home for lunch), that's 3 miles of walking. The children who didn't walk home for lunch ate and then played on the play ground for 45 minutes until classes started back. We had 15 minute recesses twice a day, and on the three days we didn't have recess in the afternoon, we had 30 minutes of physical education. When we got home from school, we didn't have homework, we went outside and played until it was dinner time. By that time, we were well worn out and ready for a good night's sleep, and obesity was rare!
The way I deal with my hyper children is to exercise them a lot. My older daughter walks, and my younger daughter jumps on the rebounder. They are outside playing as much as possible, and we find plenty of work for them to do around the house.
By the way, 15 minutes of exercise prior to school work is a good way to get my girls to sit down and study.
I think Welch has a proper perspective here: the 'pure' neurological disorders are ones like Alzheimer's and traumatic brain injury (though of course there may be and frequently are behavioral and emotional impacts too). ADD and Major Depression have features of both brain/neurological disorders and a definite interaction with behavioral/social factors. Alcoholism (despite medicine's claim to the contrary) is an illness but not a disease - while there are genetic/biological factors, behavioral/social factors are stronger.
All that is to say that on a spectrum of sin & personal responsibility, Alzheimer's would be on one end, and alcoholism on the other.
All that is to say that on a spectrum of sin & personal responsibility, Alzheimer's would be on one end, and alcoholism on the other.
How is ADHD diagnosed? Is there some physical test that a person takes that determines whether he or she has ADHD?
If the behavior associated with ADHD can be caused by something other than ADHD, how would one verify if the behavior is caused by ADHD and not by something else?
Can a neurological disorder be measured independently of behavior?
If the behavior associated with ADHD can be caused by something other than ADHD, how would one verify if the behavior is caused by ADHD and not by something else?
Can a neurological disorder be measured independently of behavior?
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Augusta
Puritan Board Doctor
Curt, it is diagnosed by a neurologist. I have had two children diagnosed. One with autism and another with Asperger's. These two both have other obvious neurological issues like sound and touch sensitivity in my son, and my daughter has hand sensitivity and reflex issues. The neurologist performed all kinds of little tests on both of them during their 1 hour visits.
Psychiatrists may also diagnose ADD. We poor psychiatrists have no tests to rely on (other than to rule out medical illnesses, including neurological illnesses). A psychiatrist relies on history taking, observation, and interview. Which is to say, for a Christian psychiatrist, I rely on God's grace to help me help my patients.
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