Quote:
Originally Posted by Gundo
ADHD is often seen as a controversial concept. Many people still believe that it's just an excuse for laziness, or an invention by pharmaceutical companies, or simply the result of watching too much TV or eating too much sugar. But the research and science is clear: ADHD is a very real neurodevelopmental condition, and it has a lot to do with genetics.
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And my hope is that the more the myths and stigmas about our conditions can be talked about and brought to light, the further we'll be able to shift towards a culture that makes room for every kind of brain and individual. And with an estimated 90% of adults with some form of ADHD remaining undiagnosed I hope my story possibly helps someone else's life change down the road.
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I was a high school teacher for years, and while I learned about things like ADHD in Uni it didn't 'click' for me until I started teaching kids everyday. Kids with ADHD are VERY identifiable once you spend some time with them and ask them to do some writing/reading. They present much differently than kids who are just lazy or going through other struggles.
Regardless, one of the main struggles I had when teaching these kids, was that parents of kids diagnosed with ADHD (and other things as well) would often disagree or ignore the diagnosis. Lots of parents do not want to accept these diagnoses and instead send their kids to school without the proper supports (meds/therapy) that they need to get through. It was beyond frustrating. We would sit down with these parents, along with psychologists, and discuss the issues and the parents would deny the diagnosis, or say "his father is like that, so he's fine" or whatever. I would guess that about half of the kids we identified with ADHD or other learning difficulties were often disregarded by the parents. Many of those kids did not finish high school or barely squeaked through from us 'gifting' them the diploma. It was frustrating to see and experience.
I agree with you that ADHD people need to be more accepted into society. And that goes with people accepting their own responsibilities in their own struggles. Hopefully with a broader societal acceptance, people will be more willing to accept reality for their own loved ones.
Sorry for venting. I appreciated hearing the OP and wish him and his child well on their journey forward. You have an awesome attitude about it all. Best of luck.