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Dear Mairian, I followed up some of the links you provided, and am not much the wiser, apart from almost universally bashing Ritalin, there seem to be three opinions for every two experts: some say it is a totally environmentally related, others say its a health issue, or an education one, or a disability. Also confusing is the singular focus on children. Do children shed ADD or ADHD when they reach maturity like a snake does its skin, or do we have adults with ADD and ADHD, or is it a taboo subject, or called something else? So, away from the Ritalin controversy, what are ADD and ADHD? Are they a disability or health problem, is it mental? How much is the environment a factor, and is this reversable? Are there successful strategies away from drugs stronger than asprin, that help these people live lives in the community and family, that are 'socially acceptable', ie don't leave people shredded, hanging in there by the skin of their teeth? Thanks for your help, rgds John ----- Original Message ----- From: Mairian Corker <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2000 9:59 PM Subject: Re: attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder > You wrote: > > Good evening all, Can someone please give me a succinct rundown on the > above, where they fit in the scheme of things, by what parameters they are > being assessed, and if they are recognized 'mainstream disabilities', or > on the periphery with a tendency to being ignored by officialdom? > > If my memory serves me right, we did have some discussion about this > related to other discusssions around disabled children and ritalin. Ritalin > is the most commonly prescribed drug for ADD and ADHD and there was a > documentary on British TV last year that said prescriptions of the drug > have risen from 4000 per year to almost 90,000 per year in the last decade > (I think). There should be something in the archives about this. However, > the answer to your question is that ADD and ADHD are being touted as the > 'disabilities' of the 21st century.In this sense, are certainly not > 'hidden'. I think disabilities is appropriate here because there is so much > about ADD and ADHD that is environmental, and some psychiatrists are urging > caution because of this. Alison's point about which professional you get is > also relevant. John Davis and I are currently writing a chapter for a book > on this topic. > > Have a look at Richard DeGrandpre (1999) Ritalin Nation. New York: W.W.Norton > and also at the following web-sites: > > http://www.breggin.com (for medical blurb) > > http://www.dyslexia.com (for 'help on multi-sensory learning helpful to > children with AD(H)D symptoms') > > http://p.a.r.org (Parents against Ritalin) > > http://www.chesapeake.net/vparker/ (Grandparents and Parents against Ritalin) > > > Best wishes > > Mairian > > Mairian Corker > Senior Research Fellow in Deaf and Disability Studies > Department of Education and Social Studies > University of Central Lancashire > Preston PR1 2HE > > Address for correspondence: > Deafsearch > 111 Balfour Road > Highbury > London N5 2HE > U.K. > > Minicom/TTY +44 [0]20 7359 8085 > Fax +44 [0]870 0553967 > Typetalk (voice) +44 [0]800 515152 (and ask for minicom/TTY number) > > ********* > > "To understand what I am doing, you need a third eye" > > ********* > > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%