Politically Incorrect time again...

[ostarella]

If I read one more sob story from a parent about their kids having ADHD, Asperger syndrome, or some other syndrome to explain bad behavior, I will scream.

I get that there are kids who have these problems. I get that there are adults with these problems (I was diagnosed with AADD myself - and note I refuse to include that damn H for hyperactivity). But my god - does every person who is socially inept, immature, poorly disciplined or simply exuberant have to have some damn syndrome to excuse it? AADD is something I have - I deal with it. I don't say, Oh, I can put off doing stuff because of this condition so it's not my fault! How many parents are just lousy at parenting but get their doctors (always willing to please!) to put a label on their kid rather than admit they can't parent? How many wonderfully joyful and exuberant kids are put on drugs instead of being shown how to channel their wonderfulness?

It's that damn "I'm a victim" mentality again. Nothing is our fault. There's nothing we can do about it. Give me drugs, man! Accomodate my immaturity! Overlook my kid's rudeness!

I don't want to do the hard stuff so find me a syndrome! NOW!

Comments

[theninth.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you on this. Yes, there are actually kids (and adults) who have Autism/Asperger Syndrome or are truly ADD or ADHD and need medication, coping therapy, different teaching methods, etc... but I really feel it's being overdiagnosed and kids are either allowed to behave like holy terrors or are being overmedicated because parents can't cope. That's just going to make it so much harder for the kids who are properly diagnosed to get the care and attention they need.

I have a friend with an autistic son. She doesn't like to talk about it because she's worried she'll look like one of the people who cry wolf.

[beckyblack]

I hate the way they have to medicalise every type of human behaviour and emotion. I hate the way they treat feeling bad in reaction to bad things happening as being somehow a medical condition, or just emotions we shouldn't have and need to be medicated out of.

Two of my nephews have got some issues like this - genuinely, one had some learning difficulties particularly around his speech development and one has an Aspergers diagnosis, and you can tell when you're with him he's different from other boys his age. He doesn't have any big behaviour problems though. My sister is a teacher, so she can deal with any challenges like that.

So it annoys me when you get these eejits on the net who claim to be "Aspies" cos they think it's a bit cool somehow.

People want to get their kids off junk food and sugar, have them get some excercise, fresh air and enough sleep and say "no" to them now and again and they might find there's no need to fill them up with chemicals.