HartmanMultigenre2

= Pieces from my Multigenre on ADHD =

My multigenre essay is about learning that my daughter had ADHD, which we discovered when she was in second grade. I have written a collection of pieces exploring different aspects of the topic, exploring peoples reactions, exploring the decision to use medication, and trying to give some sense what it feels like to have ADHD and to parent a child with ADHD. The pieces are presented here in no particular order. I have made no decisions yet about how to organize it. I think making a decision about organization might help push me to make this into an essay and not just a grab bag of genre pieces.

**A Child's View of Attention Deficit** //from The New York Times, Feb. 1, 2008// **1.** // People looked at me // // differently, like, // // oh, she // // has a disability, // // oh, she’s // // stupid, // // she’s retarded. // // I mean… // // I just don’t get // // things as easily as others. // // And I don’t think // // they understood that. //

//** 2. **// // What does it feel like to have. . . // // feelings of isolation. . . // // People looked at me differently, // // like, oh, she has a disability, // // oh, she’s stupid, she’s retarded. // // Not only do I have a tendency to interrupt… // // they’ll say it makes them feel // // uncomfortable. . . and I’ll have it// //the rest of my life.// // -struggles with homework // // -ability to make friends // // -coping strategies // // -“Report to the special ed office” // // -focus when you’re zoned out // // -get a friend who understands // // I just don’t get things as easily // // as others. And I don’t think // // they understood that. // // What does it feel like to have // // Attention Deficit Disorder? //

// **Cinnamon Adderal Applesauce** //

// Prepare every morning and serve with breakfast. A favorite with Honey Nut Cheerios. Serves one//

//1 large spoonful of cinnamon applesauce*// //10 mg Adderal (capsule)//

//Spoon dollop of applesauce into a small bowl. Pull apart the capsule and sprinkle medicine granules over applesauce. Stir and serve.// //*Note: Cinnamon applesauce is highly recommended over plain. Otherwise, this dish will taste too "medicine-y."//

// **Reactions to hearing that Elizabeth has ADHD** //


 * 1) "Really?"
 * 2) "Oh no. Why?"
 * 3) "What's that?"
 * 4) "How do you know for sure? Did you have to take her to the doctor?"
 * 5) "I think ADHD is over-diagnosed."
 * 6) "Oh yeah? Our daughter has ADHD too. I always thought they were a lot alike."
 * 7) "Did you get a second opinion?"

// **Mulling It Over** // // To medicate or not to medicate? That's what this all boils down to. After getting back the test results from the school, they said you should consult your doctor. The school can't make a diagnosis. They just make a recommendation. But the doctor tells us, he can't make a diagnosis either. There's no test he can run to determine for certain that Elizabeth has ADHD. Everything we're telling him and the questionnaire results we're showing him are consistent with a positive diagnosis, he says. Do we want him to write a prescription? It's up to us really. We end up making a decision. It's an informed decision, sure. But we're no experts. We're not doctors, not psychiatrists. We're just parents. If we want the doctor to write a prescription, he will. If we don't, he won't. That's just the way it works. I've read the books and surfed the websites. I know about as much as I can. Medication works. It's the only thing that makes a significant difference. She'll do better in school. She won't get behind during these critical years while she's learning to read and learning basic math.But how can you be sure? Some people say the medicine is dangerous. How can you give a kid a stimulant every day of their life without doing harm? (But this isn't a new drug. Kids have been taking it for years. Hyper pills we called them when I was a kid.) Kids don't need to take drugs. If you rid their environment of toxins, if you feed them right (protein in the morning!), if they get enough sleep, if you could just be a better parent. And then other people tell you ADHD isn't real. It's just a label we put on rambunctious boys, because we won't let boys be boys--not in school. (Of course, this is meaningless for our girl.) ADHD is overdiagnosed, people will tell you. It's the environment that leads kids to distraction. Maybe. But that doesn't help us decide about our one girl. You can't overdiagnose one child--you can only misdiagnose her. Or miss the diagnosis. ADHD is probably overdiagnosed AND underdiagnosed. How could it not be? I thought I had come to the doctor sure of what to do. She's ADHD. The doctor will confirm it. He'll discuss medication with us. I thought I was sure medication was safe, effective, and necessary. We leave having taken no action, with a new stack of pamphlets to read. I need a little more time to think about it. //

//**I think. . .**//

// ". . . ADHD is overdiagnosed. I just think kids today have so many distractions, what with TV and video games and computers, that nothing holds their attention. Doctors want to stick a label on everything and give everyone a pill. And parents can't discipline their own kids, so they want an easy solution. And teachers can't discipline if the kids have no discipline at home--they'd love the kids to just take a pill and sit still. It's just kids being kids, a lot of it. Especially boys. Boys have a lot of energy. They're physical. You can't expect them all to just sit quietly at a desk all day and behave. Don't you think?" //

//**In Line**// People looked at me

while I stood in line

waiting to use the drinking fountain behind the boy whose ear asked to be licked.

I mean. ..

it was right there right in front of me right when I bent forward right when my tongue leapt out right when the teacher pulled me out of line.

And I don’t think she understood.

**Not Airheads**
**// According to a CBS News report*: //**

girls are undiagnosed, the disorder exhibits itself differently less rebellious and written off as airheads.

That said, girls like boys don't perform as well in school and have short attention

spans. Big difference once they hit puberty the symptoms often increase in girls. Treating girls can be more difficult serious long-term consequences compensate for poor grades by becoming "social butterflies" engaging in risky behavior

drugs and sex.

"Tom Boy" risk-taking "Day Dreamer" shy, sweet and passive "Chatty Cathy" very silly

*//The Early Show//, Dec. 13, 2002

Practicing Piano
ME: O.K., Elizabeth, start playing.

ELIZABETH: The man in the picture has a broken arm.

ME: You're right. Are you ready to start?

ELIZABETH: What's the hand position?

ME: You know. You've been playing this for a week.

ELIZABETH: Oh yeah. All right.

ME: Ready?

ELIZABETH: [Stands up.]

ME: Elizabeth, you need to sit down to play. Stop squirming.

ELIZABETH: [Lays down on the bench.]

ME: Whenever you're ready.

ADHD? Really?
"What did you find out?" Jane asked me.

"The school counselor told us we should have her checked out to see if she's ADHD."

"Really? I think ADHD is overdiagnosed."

"Well, it fits with what every teacher she's ever had has told us." I felt the blood rising in my face. Why did I feel so defensive? Her first and second-grade teachers had both said Elizabeth was a delightful girl, but she was immature. She never could stay in her seat and frequently came home with notes from the teacher for talking in the hallway or playing around in the bathroom.

"I just think that kids today have so many distractions--TV and video games and computers--that they just can't pay attention to anything for very long. Doctors and schools are too quick to stick a label on kids and give them all drugs."

"Well," I paused, not knowing what to say. I didn't know that much myself about ADHD. What if Jane was right? "If we have her evaluated, it doesn't mean we have to do anything about it. We wouldn't necessarily have to medicate."

"That's true. Let me know what you find out." //The following is copied from a website. I was thinking about using this or quotes from it as introductions to certain pieces or just to incorporate an official definition.// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; border-bottom-color: #bbbbbb; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-color: #cccccc; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: #bbbbbb; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: #cccccc; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #000000; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 15px; min-height: 1100px; padding-bottom: 40px; padding-left: 50px; padding-right: 50px; padding-top: 40px; width: 648px !important;">**Symptoms** According to the National Institute of Mental Health website:

Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are the key behaviors of ADHD. It is normal for all children to be inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive sometimes, but for children with ADHD, these behaviors are more severe and occur more often. To be diagnosed with the disorder, a child must have symptoms for 6 or more months and to a degree that is greater than other children of the same age. Children who have symptoms of inattention may:


 * Be easily distracted, miss details, forget things, and frequently switch from one activity to another
 * Have difficulty focusing on one thing
 * Become bored with a task after only a few minutes, unless they are doing something enjoyable
 * Have difficulty focusing attention on organizing and completing a task or learning something new
 * Have trouble completing or turning in homework assignments, often losing things (e.g., pencils, toys, assignments) needed to complete tasks or activities
 * Not seem to listen when spoken to
 * Daydream, become easily confused, and move slowly
 * Have difficulty processing information as quickly and accurately as others
 * Struggle to follow instructions.

Children who have symptoms of hyperactivity may:

Children who have symptoms of impulsivity may:
 * Fidget and squirm in their seats
 * Talk nonstop
 * Dash around, touching or playing with anything and everything in sight
 * Have trouble sitting still during dinner, school, and story time
 * Be constantly in motion
 * Have difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities.


 * Be very impatient
 * Blurt out inappropriate comments, show their emotions without restraint, and act without regard for consequences
 * Have difficulty waiting for things they want or waiting their turns in games
 * Often interrupt conversations or others' activities.