Great article but interesting how the attitude towards ADD / ADHD seems to be different in the UK than it is here in the States. The prevailing attitude I've experienced here is that certainly it exists, but that it's misunderstood and somewhat over diagnosed. From the article and the comments following, I would assume it's rather under diagnosed over there, although it still seems to be widely misunderstood.
It's actually really interesting to me what an outcry there is over ADHD treatment. It seems to center around the feeling that there is "something wrong with" a person with ADHD. The ADHD person, when diagnosed, seems to frequently say to him or herself either "that's what's wrong!" (in relief) or "There's nothing wrong with me!" (in outrage).
Those relieved that they now "know what's wrong" seem to be OK with the idea of taking a prescription drug to "fix it," where others who react with "there's nothing wrong!" either ignore it totally or go towards alternative solutions like life coaching and dietary changes.
( Of course these are very general opinions formed based on personal experience, reading, chatting with other parents, etc. I'm not claiming to be accurate or authoritative. Just imho. )
It's funny though that people seem to need to have it be one way or the other. Why, I wonder? Why can't we just say, it's not "something wrong" or "not wrong," it just is what it is for each individual person; each individual person needs to recognize their individual symptoms and deal with them in whatever way allows them to be successful, as measured by the criteria which are important to them personally? And why, as always, do we need to impose our choices for what works for us and for what we do or don't experience as symptoms on everyone else?
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