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BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most feared and misunderstood of all medical conditions. Despite over 200 scientific papers being published on this neurological condition every year, it remains stigmatised and controversial. Some doctors don't even believe it exists.
Yet it is estimated that as many as 3-5% of the childhood population, and over one million adults in the UK are affected by ADHD. These people are often described as stupid, lazy, disorganised, wild, out of control or woozy on drugs. But the reality is altogether more complex, and deeply moving.
From 2005, RT 48:57.
Yet it is estimated that as many as 3-5% of the childhood population, and over one million adults in the UK are affected by ADHD. These people are often described as stupid, lazy, disorganised, wild, out of control or woozy on drugs. But the reality is altogether more complex, and deeply moving.
From 2005, RT 48:57.
Mar 21, 2009 4:51 AM
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
I couldn't watch it all, the parents started to wick me off. The kids I could handle.
You should never raise a finger to a child unless it's accompanied by another four.
You should never raise a finger to a child unless it's accompanied by another four.
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
If this is intended to be a genuine exploration of a misunderstood neurological condition, then it fails.
I saw nothing in here that convinced me that such a thing as ADHD exists as a genuine and measurable medical condition... especially one that is supposedly a result of "a chemical imbalance in the brain".
All I saw here were scores of examples of what happens when young apes live without discipline and who are constantly being given attention whenever they are being hyperactive.
I saw nothing in here that convinced me that such a thing as ADHD exists as a genuine and measurable medical condition... especially one that is supposedly a result of "a chemical imbalance in the brain".
All I saw here were scores of examples of what happens when young apes live without discipline and who are constantly being given attention whenever they are being hyperactive.
By: spirot
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
This may come off as trying to start an argument, but be assured that that is not what i am trying to do.
It appears that this Horizon piece is focused on the experience of living with ADHD (hence the title) as opposed to convincing people of the clinical existence of such a condition.
It appears that this Horizon piece is focused on the experience of living with ADHD (hence the title) as opposed to convincing people of the clinical existence of such a condition.
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
Much like OCD it is a hard thing to understand without experiencing it. It really, really upsets me when people refute the existence of this condition. While I will say that it is definitely over-diagnosed, it is a very real, and often debilitating disorder. I've spoken to, many dozens of people who have more severe cases of this disorder, as I do, and we all have similar issues, most commonly: being mistreated and dismissed for not "bucking up," and told to "just try harder." If you need scientific, as well as circumstantial evidence, if you're truly interested, I suggest reading Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder,
by Edward M. Hallowell. A comprehensive guide for both those who suffer from the disorder, and those who have to deal with them. It explains medically and methodically the intricacies of treating people both through therapy and medication (a person with the disorder almost always requires both). Those with ADD and ADHD also tend to have higher than average general intelligence and/or highly developed specialized intelligence. Different doesn't mean inferior. We're only disadvantaged when we're required to conform to the standards of a society that not only doesn't work to help us integrate but by and large won't even acknowledge us. Objectively, we are quite capable. We tend to possess abilities which may prove immensely valuable to an increasingly technological world. In all, I have faith in progress, but will never depend on others to make a way for me. If it's harder for me, I will have to be stronger to succeed, and I will succeed. I just want others to appreciate the struggle.
by Edward M. Hallowell. A comprehensive guide for both those who suffer from the disorder, and those who have to deal with them. It explains medically and methodically the intricacies of treating people both through therapy and medication (a person with the disorder almost always requires both). Those with ADD and ADHD also tend to have higher than average general intelligence and/or highly developed specialized intelligence. Different doesn't mean inferior. We're only disadvantaged when we're required to conform to the standards of a society that not only doesn't work to help us integrate but by and large won't even acknowledge us. Objectively, we are quite capable. We tend to possess abilities which may prove immensely valuable to an increasingly technological world. In all, I have faith in progress, but will never depend on others to make a way for me. If it's harder for me, I will have to be stronger to succeed, and I will succeed. I just want others to appreciate the struggle.
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
I have my doubts about the scientific validity of testing and determining these disabilities, but
I will steer myself away from the contentious question of whether the behavioural stigmata of ADHD, ADD, OCD, etc. are useful or real.
In this program it is claimed that...
ADHD is the diagnosis for these humans.
ADHD is a result of "a chemical imbalance in the brain".
The condition can be transmitted generationally through genetic material.
That being the case...
I'm not convinced that what we were presented with here were examples of a neurobehavioural developmental disorder. The behaviours that were exhibited by these human beings did not seem to be anything other than what common sense should expect.
Undesirable behaviour? Perhaps.
Abnormal? Not at all.
For example:
We have a circumstance in which a young human male is focussed and thrives in a regimented physical activity (football), yet is disruptive and uncontrolled at home where the adult authority figure (and de facto role-model) is... well... nonchalant about authority would be the charitable way of putting it.
If he was unable to exhibit control or to maintain focus in both environments, then you might conclude that the "problem" might be in his head. However, he is disciplined in a disciplined environment. He is undisciplined in an undisciplined environment.
That's normal. That's to be expected.
That's cause and effect.
That's not ADHD... that's being an ape... that is to say... it's human.
All the behaviour that was demonstrated in this piece was reasonable within the circumstances presented (ESPECIALLY the circumstance that everybody knows they have television cameras on them). These were completely normal minds acting normally within disordered environments.
I would say that watching this was not unlike watching Supernanny except that would be doing a disservice to the show Supernanny. While it caters to the same cheap voyeurism as this Horizon program did, at least Supernanny dares to examine their case studies with a more rigourous consideration of environmental dynamics, family structure, diet...
... and drugs.
I cannot be the only person who noticed the substitution of cocaine for Ritalin in the medication history of one of these parents. And now that pattern of behaviour has been passed on to her children. If we had been told that the kids were using cocaine, then we wouldn't need ADHD to explain their behaviour. Yet, we are told that they are being prescribed Ritalin as a result of their ADHD-like behaviour, and we are expected to accept that as reasonable? Would it not be responsible to ask if Ritalin might be a contributing factor in their ADHD behaviour? A cause rather than an effect?
I think so.
These very same children and their very same behaviours could be presented as examples of demon possession and I wouldn't consider it to be a sloppier piece of reasoning than to conclude that they have
a chemical imbalance in the brain
or a neurochemical behavioural disorder
or a disability.
I will steer myself away from the contentious question of whether the behavioural stigmata of ADHD, ADD, OCD, etc. are useful or real.
In this program it is claimed that...
ADHD is the diagnosis for these humans.
ADHD is a result of "a chemical imbalance in the brain".
The condition can be transmitted generationally through genetic material.
That being the case...
I'm not convinced that what we were presented with here were examples of a neurobehavioural developmental disorder. The behaviours that were exhibited by these human beings did not seem to be anything other than what common sense should expect.
Undesirable behaviour? Perhaps.
Abnormal? Not at all.
For example:
We have a circumstance in which a young human male is focussed and thrives in a regimented physical activity (football), yet is disruptive and uncontrolled at home where the adult authority figure (and de facto role-model) is... well... nonchalant about authority would be the charitable way of putting it.
If he was unable to exhibit control or to maintain focus in both environments, then you might conclude that the "problem" might be in his head. However, he is disciplined in a disciplined environment. He is undisciplined in an undisciplined environment.
That's normal. That's to be expected.
That's cause and effect.
That's not ADHD... that's being an ape... that is to say... it's human.
All the behaviour that was demonstrated in this piece was reasonable within the circumstances presented (ESPECIALLY the circumstance that everybody knows they have television cameras on them). These were completely normal minds acting normally within disordered environments.
I would say that watching this was not unlike watching Supernanny except that would be doing a disservice to the show Supernanny. While it caters to the same cheap voyeurism as this Horizon program did, at least Supernanny dares to examine their case studies with a more rigourous consideration of environmental dynamics, family structure, diet...
... and drugs.
I cannot be the only person who noticed the substitution of cocaine for Ritalin in the medication history of one of these parents. And now that pattern of behaviour has been passed on to her children. If we had been told that the kids were using cocaine, then we wouldn't need ADHD to explain their behaviour. Yet, we are told that they are being prescribed Ritalin as a result of their ADHD-like behaviour, and we are expected to accept that as reasonable? Would it not be responsible to ask if Ritalin might be a contributing factor in their ADHD behaviour? A cause rather than an effect?
I think so.
These very same children and their very same behaviours could be presented as examples of demon possession and I wouldn't consider it to be a sloppier piece of reasoning than to conclude that they have
a chemical imbalance in the brain
or a neurochemical behavioural disorder
or a disability.
By: spirot
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
You conjecture, so WHAT, may I ask, are your qualifications. I've had it explained to me, with equal aplomb and supposed "scientific" support, that such disorders ARE in fact demon possession, and that they could be "cured" by prayer and regular church attendance. Unfortunately, these things have never helped me. What HAS worked for me (and by worked, I mean resulted in significant improvement in my quality of life, as I perceive it to be affected by a professionally diagnosed disorder) is intense, personally imposed lifestyle regiment PAIRED with medication. I don't merely CONJECTURE, but in fact RELATE personal experience. I was helped by a psychiatrist (that's an MD, in case you're unclear about qualification) who quickly and concisely evaluated my condition and made a greater difference in my life than my parents (who were state-certified crisis care foster parents, and who ran a ten bed group home for a decade) had been able to in ten years of raising me. So, while I respect and support the right to personal opinion, perhaps you could provide for me the scientific basis of your conclusions as well as the credentials which qualify you to proclaim them so confidently? Please forgive me if *I* am skeptical.
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
My qualifications are that I'm a free-thinking human being. If we disagree, then no degree of qualifications on my part are likely to sway you.
I do not generally dispute that an imbalance in brain chemistry would likely cause a behavioural disorder. I do not dispute that such an imbalance could find its source in genetic material (and therefore could be transferred from one generation to the next).
My dispute is specific to the observations, methods, and conclusions of this television program. I dispute the diagnosis of the individuals in this program which is clearly stated at the beginning of the show - "a chemical imbalance in the brain".
In this show, I witnessed children very normally testing the limits of acceptable behaviour. I witnessed repeated events in which authority figures fail to set and maintain a system of discipline. I witnessed unfocussed behaviour being rewarded with attention. I witnessed a cavalier attitude towards medication. All of these things I consider to be causes of the said behaviour, not the effect of it.
But with the weight of your own personal experience, do you believe that the humans presented in this program are affected by a brain chemistry balance or are there other more plausible causes for the behaviour demonstrated?
I do not generally dispute that an imbalance in brain chemistry would likely cause a behavioural disorder. I do not dispute that such an imbalance could find its source in genetic material (and therefore could be transferred from one generation to the next).
My dispute is specific to the observations, methods, and conclusions of this television program. I dispute the diagnosis of the individuals in this program which is clearly stated at the beginning of the show - "a chemical imbalance in the brain".
In this show, I witnessed children very normally testing the limits of acceptable behaviour. I witnessed repeated events in which authority figures fail to set and maintain a system of discipline. I witnessed unfocussed behaviour being rewarded with attention. I witnessed a cavalier attitude towards medication. All of these things I consider to be causes of the said behaviour, not the effect of it.
But with the weight of your own personal experience, do you believe that the humans presented in this program are affected by a brain chemistry balance or are there other more plausible causes for the behaviour demonstrated?
By: spirot
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
I find that stimulants often cause ADHD like effects in "normal" people. The most common instance I've encountered is caffeine. If you know someone who purports to be ADHD ask them how caffeine affects them. People with ADHD often self medicate. Often with stimulants, but also quite often with alcohol. That being said, it MUST be taken on a case by case basis. Carefully monitoring diet can often yield dramatic results, both for those with ADHD and those without. I find that eating on a regular schedule and limiting my sugar intake helps me to be less irritable and aggressive, though it has no noticeable effect on my attention span. Stimulants like amphetamines help me focus, but I have to eat on a schedule or I become irritable. This is harder than it sounds because those same stimulants suppress appetite, and it is easy to under eat. Overall, if I eat a nutritious, well balanced diet on a schedule and follow my medication regimen carefully, I suffer neither from irritability, nor distractability nor diet deficiency, and I am able to get along with the same apparent ease that my peers do. This to me seems to be what it is to be normal. If I neglect any of these things, though, my life becomes chaotic. So, as I've said before, it takes careful personal regimen as well as medication. For me, the puzzle is missing a piece, and that piece is replaced by pharmaceuticals. You've got to take it case by case.
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
I am glad you ain't my mom, Griff. I hate to be slapped.
FYI, my mom misses three fingers on her right hand, and two on her left.
FYI, my mom misses three fingers on her right hand, and two on her left.
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
That's an understatement.
From The Guardian (15 July, 1981):
A young mother shot herself through the head yesterday after giving birth to the cutest baby ever. Doctors are stunned by this callous deed. The baby is taking it well, so far, presumably not aware of life's cruelties. He is playing almost incessantly with a fluffy teddy bear, having mauled it after the doctors barely rescued him from swallowing and choking on its eyes. He then bawled for the blonde nurse, who had to take a break after her nipples became too sore. When the nurse came back, all was well again.
Our readers are invited to take part in a contest to give the baby an apt name. Winner will be photographed holding the baby and earn 50 Pounds as well. Dogs not allowed.
For those wondering, the father has disappeared without a trace. Please call the number below if you have any idea where he can hang out. All local pubs have been searched already.
From The Guardian (15 July, 1981):
A young mother shot herself through the head yesterday after giving birth to the cutest baby ever. Doctors are stunned by this callous deed. The baby is taking it well, so far, presumably not aware of life's cruelties. He is playing almost incessantly with a fluffy teddy bear, having mauled it after the doctors barely rescued him from swallowing and choking on its eyes. He then bawled for the blonde nurse, who had to take a break after her nipples became too sore. When the nurse came back, all was well again.
Our readers are invited to take part in a contest to give the baby an apt name. Winner will be photographed holding the baby and earn 50 Pounds as well. Dogs not allowed.
For those wondering, the father has disappeared without a trace. Please call the number below if you have any idea where he can hang out. All local pubs have been searched already.
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
I hear ya. I don't blame the kids for ignoring them.
By: gerrywastaken
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
I have ADD. I can imagine that most people that come to this website have either ADD or ADHD. I don't really "fear" it, in fact I'd prefer my child had one of the two. People with ADD are often more creative and unconventional people. My kind of people.
It's only a disorder if you don't have it.
It's only a disorder if you don't have it.
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
based on your post, I assume you don't have ADD and are infact one of the people who have been overdiagnosed as previous posts have suggested.
By: cheezsteak
Re: BBC Horizon: Living with ADHD
I had an afflicted step brother growing up. I've seen true symptoms in action, but I'd put most of what I've seen in this video to poor parenting skills. They don't need BBC, they need Super Nanny.
By: luclonde
