[HSList] Ritalin & ADD..BLOCKCENTER
Mike and Kay Eaker
To all,
I have been following this thread and have recently heard about a
book and web site about ADD and Ritalin.
The book (which I have not read) deals with ADD, its definition,
and treatment without Ritalin..
Perhaps it will help some with more information..
http://www.blockcenter.com/
Lynne wrote:
> I was diagnosed as having severe ADHD, and later told my
> daughter has it
> as well. In the 4 years since then, I've studied many of the books on
> the market, including stuff on allergies - you name it.
> The conclusion I have reached is that what is called ADD or ADHD is
> really just a temperament trait, much like being shy or outgoing. There
> is a website that explains this better, called Born to Explore: The
> Other Side of ADD <http://www.connix.com/~hypercog/add.htm>.
> I run an email list called Explorers, which takes a positive view of
> ADD/ADHD. There is also a fledgling webstar, of websites which take a
> positive view of ADD/ADHD. Info about the email list and the webstar
> are included on the Born to Explore site.
>
> Lynne
loganb...@centuryinter.net
On 28 Apr 1998 14:32:11 GMT, Mike and Kay Eaker <mle...@paonline.com>
wrote:
In response to Mike / Kay (mle...@paonline.com) and Lynne:
Our son is 15, will be 16 on 9 July, and he has been out of PS since
the middle of the fifth grade. His fourth grade teacher told us that
with his ADD he would do better in a private school or home school.
He was Dx has having ADHD.
During his preschool year we were able to keep him off Ritalin, by
Combining the Feingold and Alan-Cott Diets and with organic food
sources(no perservatives, no artificial colors or flavors). It took
us 6 hours to buy groceries the first time: having to read every label
and realization showed that joining an organic food coop was the way
to go. Even with this, we had to monitor what he consumed and the
reaction. He could have Nestle's chocolate, but not Hershey's. Jello
and Kool-Aid was out of the question. With all foods he could not
tolerate, there was an extreme increase in his hyperactivity. The
only soft-drink he tolerated was 7-Up or Sprite.
He was taking Ritalin grades 1 - 5. He asked us to stop his Ritalin
in the first semester of his 6 th grade, as it made him too sleepy and
as this was his first homeschool year we / he were able to manage
without. If he had been in public school, there would have been no
way.
He will start the 11th grade next september. Part of our reasoning to
homeschool is religious. He has one hour of religion / day in
addition to studies. His courses are not politically correct in
orientation. He is taught to accept persons on their merit, not
cooerced based on ethnicity, sexual-oritntation, gender, or anyother
form of forced diversity acceptance and he is taught what is right and
wrong from a Christian perspective. As our nation was based on the
belief in God and his principles, his value system would parallel that
of societal foundation
He is accepted by his peers; he is an Eagle Scout and belongs to the
Brotherhood of the Order of the Arrow. He has had the freedom to
develop his values without the negative peer pressure that public
school is noted for. Another plus is he is drug free and has a
definite system of right and wrong.
Many children that are ADD / ADHD tend to be followers of the negative
associations that are prevalent within the public school system. He
lowest grade averages have been 86 and up, which would have not been
possible as ADD children are laughed at, made fun of, and are
"labled". This label follows them from grade to grade and they are
not allowed to start each grade anew. Hence the old adage,"Once a
troublemaker, always a troublemaker. He would have been reminded that
he was an ADD child. As we mature, we develop crutches, and at least
this is one crutch he will not have to use.
He is one of the lucky ones in which puberty marks the ending of ADD.
His mother and I truly believe that homeschool, through our dedication
to him, has allowed him to progress as he has.
Based over the past 5 years and observing our son, I would strongly
diasagree with Lynnes that ADHD is soley just a temperament trait,
much like being shy or outgoing.
Roy Reeder. R.N.
loganb...@centuryinter.net